Paris Peace Forum Wraps Historic Event on Two-State Solution and Regional Security

Paris, June 13 (DNA): At the close of a landmark civil society gathering on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the Paris Peace Forum joined forces with civil society groups to present the Paris Call for the Two-State Solution to Jean-Noël Barrot, French Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs. The declaration, drafted jointly by Israeli, Palestinian, regional, and international civil society leaders, was formally handed to the Minister during the conference’s closing session. It will serve as a key input to the upcoming UN High-Level Conference on the Peaceful Settlement of the Palestinian Question.

The Paris Call demands immediate recognition of the State of Palestine, a permanent ceasefire, the unconditional release of all hostages, and unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza. It also urges the international community to take tangible action to preserve and implement the two-state solution, through legal accountability, diplomatic recognition, economic support, and sustained engagement with civil society.

The conference, held at the French Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE), was opened by Thierry Beaudet, President of the CESE. It brought together over 500 participants from Israeli and Palestinian civil society, the broader region, and international institutions. Throughout the day, peacebuilders gathered for public sessions and roundtables aimed at advancing a just and lasting resolution to the conflict.

Debates addressed the feasibility of the two-state solution and explored new conditions under which it might be revived. Participants called for a sovereign and viable Palestinian state and the reform and strengthening of its institutions, while affirming the need for secure borders and credible guarantees for both peoples. Mutual recognition was highlighted as a cornerstone of peace, not a concession, and many discussions centered on how to build public support for coexistence in both societies.

Security and regional integration were at the forefront of several panels, where speakers explored how a broader framework, backed by regional powers and international guarantors, could stabilize the situation and pave the way for long-term cooperation. Others examined the urgent humanitarian collapse in Gaza, the future of reconstruction, and the responsibilities of donors and multilateral institutions. Strong emphasis was placed on creating a “peace support package” that would offer concrete dividends to both populations.

Sessions on education, memory, and media addressed the deeper roots of mistrust and division. Participants discussed the importance of confronting historical trauma, amplifying alternative narratives, and equipping a new generation with the tools to imagine a shared future. Civil society initiatives working on the ground, often in the face of indifference or hostility, were showcased as proof that cooperation is not only possible, but already happening.

“In a moment of immense suffering in Gaza, which has to stop now, this conference showed that the political horizon of having two states living safely side by side still exists – and remains essential. Israeli and Palestinian civil society actors sat together, debated, disagreed, and still came away with a shared appeal for peace and a political solution,” said Justin Vaïsse, Founder and Director General of the Paris Peace Forum.

The message from Paris is clear: the recognition of Palestine and the prospect of peaceful coexistence of Palestine and Israel is the first step to stop the ongoing violence, and to restore hope for a long-term solution and a brighter future. Civil society is already leading the way—and now calls on governments to follow.

The conference was hosted by the Paris Peace Forum and organized in partnership with six leading civil society coalitions: the Alliance for Middle East Peace (ALLMEP), the Alliance for Two States, Forum 1325, Les Guerrières de la Paix, the International Peace Forum, and the Two-State Solution Coalition.

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About the Paris Peace Forum: The Forum is a platform to originate, shape & share multi-actor responses towards global peace & sustainable prosperity. By convening key decision-makers and fostering collaboration between governments, international organizations, businesses, and civil society, we ensure that diplomacy is not just discussed but reinvented to meet the demands of a changing world. For more information, visit parispeaceforum.org.