Israeli and Palestinian civil society groups meet in France to advocate for two-state solution

Israeli and Palestinian civil society groups convened in Paris on June 12 to advocate for renewed international commitment to a two-state solution, marking one year since the UN-backed New York Declaration that prompted countries including France, Britain, and Canada to recognize Palestinian statehood. The gathering, which included foreign ministers and senior officials from dozens of nations, produced an eight-point "Call for Action" addressing permanent ceasefire, settlement halts, Gaza reconstruction, and governance reforms. The conference underscores growing Western frustration with Israeli settler violence in the occupied West Bank and settlement expansion, particularly the E1 project east of Jerusalem, which diplomats argue is designed to undermine Palestinian statehood prospects. Israel and the United States declined to attend, with the Israeli embassy stating the conference does not promote peace and noting Palestinian rejection of previous statehood proposals. Civil society leaders emphasized that sustainable peace requires both grassroots engagement and political commitment, arguing that the current trajectory is unsustainable and that citizens on both sides support alternatives to the status quo.