Meeting to end with eight-point action plan urging permanent ceasefire, settlement halt, Gaza reconstruction
Israeli. 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. senior officials from dozens of countries, marks one year since the United Nations-backedNew 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 seeminglyendless conflicts, too manycivilian casualtiesand a cycle of violence,. in light of the stalled implementation of theGaza ceasefire.. we believe this conference is now more essential and urgent than ever,” France's Foreign Ministry spokesperson told reporters on Thursday.
Read:Israel has become world’s most boycotted state: report
The gathering will end with an eight-point “Call for Action” urging a permanent ceasefire, a halt to settlements, Gaza reconstruction, governance reforms. 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,. 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 byReuters.
"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."
Anger in west over settler violence
The conference comes amid escalating violence by Israeli settlers in theoccupied West Bankand underscoresanger in many Western countriestoward Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government. which has expanded settlements.
Diplomats say that expansion is aimed at undermining prospects for aPalestinian 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. cut it off from East Jerusalem, fragmenting territory Palestinians seek for an independent state.
Read More:UN sees 'ethnic cleansing' in West Bank
Britain, Canada, France. Norway announced new coordinated sanctions on Tuesday against Israeli networks involved in financing, enabling andcarrying out violencein the Israeli-occupied West Bank.
Israel and the United States declined to attend the meeting. "The ambassador was invited. will not attend the conference, as it has nothing to do with promoting peace," the Israeli embassy said in a statement.
"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."
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