Israeli and Palestinian civil society groups are gathering in France on Friday, hoping to remind the international community not to give up on a two‑state solution. Paris is working to keep this vision alive even as the Middle East war continues.
Foreign ministers and senior officials from dozens of countries will attend, marking one year since the UN‑supported New York Declaration. That declaration laid out a path toward Palestinian statehood and encouraged several nations — including France, Britain, and Canada — to recognize it.
“Given the ongoing conflicts in the region, the tragic loss of civilian life, the continuous cycle of violence, and the stalled Gaza ceasefire, this conference feels more vital than ever,” a spokesperson for France’s Foreign Ministry said.
The meeting will conclude with an eight‑point Call for Action. It will urge a permanent ceasefire, an end to settlement expansion, reconstruction of Gaza, governance reforms, and stronger international support for civil society. This plan will then be presented to G7 leaders meeting in the French Alps next week.
According to the action plan seen by Reuters, the region continues to fracture: Gaza lies in ruins, Israel faces persistent threats, and settlement expansion — along with acts of settler violence — is undermining the possibility of a future Palestinian state. Both Israelis and Palestinians “remain trapped in fear, insecurity, and trauma.” The document warns that, as G7 leaders gather, the conflict risks once again being pushed aside, even though the window for a solution is still open — but narrowing.
This conference comes as violence by Israeli settlers in the West Bank escalates and frustration grows in many Western countries toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government for continuing to expand settlements. Diplomats say these moves are designed to weaken prospects for a Palestinian state. One major concern is the E1 settlement plan east of Jerusalem, which would divide the West Bank and sever it from east Jerusalem — territory Palestinians view as essential for a future state.
On Tuesday, Britain, Canada, France, and Norway announced coordinated sanctions against Israeli networks involved in financing or enabling violence in the West Bank.
Neither Israel nor the United States chose to attend the meeting.
“The ambassador was invited but will not attend, as the conference does not promote peace,” the Israeli embassy said, adding that France cannot act as a mediator. The statement also noted that Palestinian leaders have previously declined statehood proposals on multiple occasions.
