Israeli and Palestinian groups urge world not to abandon two-state solution

A meeting in France on Friday brought together Israeli and Palestinian civil society groups, along with foreign ministers and senior officials from dozens of countries. The gathering marked one year since the UN-backed New York Declaration, which outlined a roadmap to Palestinian statehood and prompted several countries, including France, Britain, and Canada, to recognize a Palestinian state.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot addressed 250 civil society representatives from both sides, saying: "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."

The meeting concluded 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. This call will be delivered to G7 leaders meeting in the French Alps from Monday.

The action plan states: "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. 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 comes amid escalating violence by Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, which has angered many Western countries towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, which has expanded settlements. Diplomats say this 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.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said: "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."

Britain, Canada, France, and Norway announced new coordinated sanctions on Tuesday against Israeli networks involved in financing, enabling, and carrying out violence in the occupied West Bank. Israel and the United States declined to attend the meeting in Paris. The Israeli embassy said: "The ambassador was invited but will not attend the conference, as it has nothing to do with promoting peace. 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."