Conference in France Mobilizes International Support for the Two-State Solution

SadaNews - Israeli and Palestinian civil society organizations are meeting in France on Friday to urge the international community not to abandon the two-state solution, as Paris seeks to keep the issue on the agenda amidst the Middle East war, according to the Reuters news agency.

The meeting is attended by foreign ministers and senior officials from dozens of countries and is held a year after the UN-backed New York declaration, which set a roadmap towards the establishment of a Palestinian state and pushed about 12 countries, including France, the UK, and Canada, to recognize a Palestinian state.

The French foreign ministry spokesperson told reporters on Thursday: "Given the current situation in the region, which is witnessing seemingly endless conflicts and many civilian casualties and a cycle of violence, and with the ceasefire in Gaza stalling... we believe that this conference has now become more important and urgent than ever."

The meeting will conclude with an "Action Call" consisting of 8 points urging for a permanent ceasefire, a halt to settlement construction, reconstruction of Gaza, governance reforms, and strengthening international support for civil society.

The call will be delivered to leaders of the G7 who will meet in the French Alps starting Monday. The action plan reviewed by Reuters stated, "The region is still suffering from fragmentation. Gaza is devastated, and Israel is still under threat. Settler terrorism, settlement expansion, de facto annexation, and threats directed at the Palestinian Authority continue to undermine the possibility of a future Palestinian state."

The conference is held amidst rising violence from Israeli settlers in the occupied West Bank, highlighting anger in many Western countries toward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government, which is expanding settlement construction.

Diplomats say the expansion aims to undermine the prospects for a Palestinian state.

Among the main concerns is Israel's plan to build a settlement east of Jerusalem, known as the "E1 Plan," which would divide the West Bank and separate it from East Jerusalem, leading to the fragmentation of the lands on which Palestinians seek to establish an independent state.

On Tuesday, the UK, Canada, France, and Norway announced new coordinated sanctions against Israeli networks involved in financing, enabling, and carrying out violence in the occupied West Bank.

Israel and the United States have rejected attending the meeting.

The Israeli embassy stated: "The ambassador received an invitation, but he will not attend the conference as it has nothing to do with promoting peace," adding that France cannot act as a mediator between Israelis and Palestinians.