Civil society organizations from Israel and Palestine gathered in France on Friday to make an urgent plea to world leaders, asking them not to give up on the possibility of a two-state solution as conflict continues to rage in the Middle East.
The Paris gathering brought together diplomatic officials and foreign ministers from numerous nations, working alongside advocacy groups from both sides of the conflict. The conference marked the one-year anniversary of the U.N.-supported New York Declaration, which outlined steps toward establishing Palestinian statehood and led approximately a dozen nations, including France, Britain and Canada, to formally recognize a Palestinian state.
Speaking to 250 civil society representatives from both communities, France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said, “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 refuses to let the side of war prevail over the side of peace,” Barrot added.
Participants concluded the conference by drafting an eight-point “Call for Action” that demands a lasting ceasefire, an end to settlement construction, reconstruction efforts in Gaza, governmental reforms, and increased international support for civil society organizations.
The action plan will be presented to G7 leaders when they convene in the French Alps beginning 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,” the action plan states.
“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.”
The conference took place as violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank has intensified, highlighting growing frustration among Western nations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s administration, which has continued expanding settlements.
According to diplomatic sources, this expansion strategy is designed to damage the possibility of establishing a Palestinian state.
Of particular concern is Israel’s proposed construction project east of Jerusalem, called the E1 project, which would divide the West Bank and separate it from East Jerusalem, breaking up territory that Palestinians want for their future nation.
European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated, “The two-state solution remains the only viable path to bringing lasting peace to the Middle East. 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.”
On Tuesday, Britain, Canada, France and Norway announced coordinated sanctions targeting Israeli networks that finance, enable and execute violence in the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Both Israel and the United States chose not to participate in the Paris conference.
“The ambassador was invited but will not attend the conference, as it has nothing to do with promoting peace,” the Israeli embassy stated.
“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.”
