Israeli, Palestinian civil society meet in France as solution dims

Israeli and Palestinian civil society groups will meet 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, attended by foreign ministers and senior officials from dozens of countries, marks one year since the U.N.-backed New York Declaration, which ​set out a roadmap toward Palestinian statehood and prompted around a dozen countries, including France, Britain and ​Canada, to recognise a Palestinian state.

"Given the current situation in the region, marked by seemingly endless ⁠conflicts, too many civilian casualties and a cycle of violence, and in light of the stalled implementation of the ​Gaza ceasefire ... we believe this conference is now more essential and urgent than ever,” France's Foreign Ministry spokesperson told reporters ​on Thursday.

The gathering will end 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.

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 seen by Reuters.

"Israelis and ‌Palestinians alike ⁠remain trapped in fear, insecurity, and trauma. We return because, as the G7 convenes in Évian, this conflict risks once again being set aside. The window for a solution remains open; but it is narrowing."

-Reuters