Get you up to speed: Israeli and Palestinian groups urge world not to abandon two-state solution
Israeli and Palestinian civil society groups presented an appeal in Paris on Friday, urging the international community to support a two-state solution amid ongoing conflict in the region. The meeting involved foreign ministers and senior officials from various countries and concluded with an eight-point “Call for Action” addressing issues such as a permanent ceasefire and settlement expansion.
The “Call for Action” delivered at the meeting included an eight-point plan aimed at promoting a permanent ceasefire, halting settlements, and strengthening international support for civil society. Coordinated sanctions were announced by Britain, Canada, France, and Norway against Israeli networks linked to violence in the West Bank, marking a significant diplomatic move as the situation remains precarious.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot emphasised during a recent meeting that “France refuses to let the side of war prevail over the side of peace,” while the eight-point “Call for Action” will be submitted to G7 leaders. Meanwhile, Britain, Canada, France, and Norway have implemented new sanctions against Israeli networks involved in violence in the West Bank.
What remains unclear — It is not specified how the G7 leaders will respond to the eight-point “Call for Action” from the gathering.
France hosts civil society appeal to maintain momentum for two-state solution
Israeli and Palestinian civil society groups delivered an appeal in France on Friday to urge the international community not to abandon a two-state solution, as Paris seeks to keep the issue alive amid the Middle East war.
The meeting brought together foreign ministers and senior officials from dozens of countries alongside civil society groups. It marks one year since the UN-backed New York Declaration, which set out a roadmap towards Palestinian statehood and prompted around a dozen countries, including France, Britain and Canada, to recognise a Palestinian state.
“We could find every reason in the world to give up. But you are here! Your testimonies alone are grounds for hope and action,” France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told 250 civil society representatives from both sides.
“France refuses to let the side of war prevail over the side of peace.”
The gathering ended with an eight-point “Call for Action” urging a permanent ceasefire, a halt to settlements, Gaza reconstruction, governance reforms and stronger international backing for civil society.
Read more‘The future is peace’: An Israeli-Palestinian call for reconciliation
It will be delivered to the G7 leaders who meet in the French Alps from Monday.
“The region continues to fracture. Gaza is devastated, Israel remains under threat. Settler terrorism, settlement expansion, and de facto annexation and threats to the Palestinian Authority continue to undermine the viability of a future Palestinian state,” according to the action plan.
“Israelis and Palestinians alike remain trapped in fear, insecurity, and trauma. We return because, as the G7 convenes in Evian, this conflict risks once again being set aside. The window for a solution remains open; but it is narrowing.”
Anger in West over settler violence
The conference comes amid escalating violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank and underscores anger in many Western countries towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government, which has expanded illegal Israeli settlements.
Diplomats say that expansion is aimed at undermining prospects for a Palestinian state.
A key concern is Israel’s plan to build a settlement east of Jerusalem, known as the E1 project, which would bisect the West Bank and cut it off from East Jerusalem, fragmenting territory Palestinians seek for an independent state.
“The two-state solution remains the only viable path to bringing lasting peace to the Middle East,” European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said. “The situation in the West Bank is equally alarming. Illegal Israeli settlements continue to expand at an unprecedented pace, and settler violence is increasing without sufficient accountability.”
Britain, Canada, France and Norway announced new coordinated sanctions on Tuesday against Israeli networks involved in financing, enabling and carrying out violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Israel and the United States declined to attend the meeting in Paris.
“The ambassador was invited but will not attend the conference, as it has nothing to do with promoting peace,” the Israeli embassy said in a statement.
“France cannot act as a mediator between Israel and the Palestinians. Regarding the two-state solution, the ambassador recalls that the Palestinians have rejected proposals to establish a Palestinian state on five occasions.”