June 5, 2026 | 12:05 pm
Illustration of the flag of Palestine. Shutterstock
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - France will bring together representatives of Israeli and Palestinian civil society in Paris next Friday, June 12, to reaffirm support for the two-state solution and to encourage efforts towards the recognition and establishment of a Palestinian state.French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, in a video message to Israeli and Palestinian civil society leaders gathered in Tel Aviv on Thursday, June 4, said the meeting was crucial for peace."It will bring together representatives of Israeli and Palestinian civil society to reaffirm our collective commitment to implementing the two-state solution," Barrot said.The event comes a year after the launch of the Paris Appeal and a year after France, along with around 10 other countries, recognized the State of Palestine, a move Barrot described as a "major decision."According to Barrot, the recommendations resulting from the meeting will inform discussions at the G7 Summit, which France is hosting this year in Evian."Our ambition is clear. We want to generate a new call to action to advance the recognition and effective implementation of a Palestinian state," Barrot said.He also emphasized the crucial role of civil society in peacebuilding, saying that local organizations and activists are often best positioned to understand the needs, aspirations, and concerns of both Israelis and Palestinians.The discussions leading up to the Paris meeting focused on five key areas: security for Israelis and Palestinians; humanitarian aid and reconstruction in Gaza; implementation of the two-state solution; response to the threat of annexation; and promoting a narrative supporting peace, democracy, reform, and regional integration.He added that these efforts would be guided by the principles of the New York Declaration and would help shape future diplomatic initiatives."The challenge is immense: enabling two states, Israel and Palestine, to live side by side in peace and security," Barrot said.He also pledged that France would continue to work with its Israeli and Palestinian partners to advance peace efforts in the region.Read: Netanyahu Says Israel Seeking to Control 70% of GazaClick here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
