- Fund will prioritise long-term peacebuilding between Israelis and Palestinians to address root causes of conflict and support a sustainable two-state solution
- Initiative jointly announced during meeting of three foreign ministers at Chevening
- Will complement existing efforts to provide humanitarian support in Palestine, crack down on violent settlers, and support the 20-point Gaza peace plan
- Ministers reiterate commitment to tackle antisemitism around the world, and end the security threat from Hamas
The UK is stepping up efforts to tackle the root causes of the Israel-Palestine conflict and support a path to a two-state solution by launching a new International Peace Fund.
The announcement came as UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper hosted her Australian and Canadian counterparts, Penny Wong and Anita Anand, for talks at Chevening on the Strait of Hormuz, the drive for peace in the Middle East, Ukraine and Sudan, and the global crisis of violence against women and girls.
The Peace Fund announcement forms part of the UK’s wider effort to use all available diplomatic, humanitarian and practical levers to support peace in Israel and Palestine. In partnership with Australia and Canada, the Fund will support practical, grassroots initiatives that bring communities together in order to rebuild trust, and reduce the divisions that harm the prospect of long-term peace.
As well as supporting existing programmes to improve their reach and capability, the Fund will also invest in new ventures, spanning all levels of society, from local community projects to support for dialogue between future leaders. Funding will go to a range of projects, particularly those that include youth groups, civil society organisations and women, with an emphasis on relationship building and creating opportunities for engagement that can underpin future peace negotiations.
Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said:
Peace, justice and security in the Middle East depends on a two-state solution and it is why our countries have recognised the State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel.
But too often Middle East peace is seen as an issue only of international diplomacy. When generations of Israelis and Palestinians have grown up with cycles of conflict and violence, we also need to support the local community organisations who are building dialogue, peace and trust across communities.
That is why the UK is launching the International Peace Fund with Australia and Canada, to support those working tirelessly to foster understanding between Israeli and Palestinian communities and create the conditions for the two states to live side-by-side in peace.
Alongside our international partners, we are clear that a negotiated two-state solution remains the only viable route to a just and lasting peace, with security and dignity for Israelis and Palestinians alike. This Fund will help support progress towards that goal from within those communities themselves.
The announcement reinforces the UK’s longstanding leadership in the field of peacebuilding, drawing on experience from similar efforts in Northern Ireland and ongoing work in the Western Balkans to address the underlying drivers of conflict.
This is the latest action taken by the UK to support peace in lockstep with international partners. On Tuesday, alongside Australia and Canada, the Foreign Secretary announced new sanctions on violent settlers in the West Bank to protect Palestinian human rights and clamp down on those harming prospects for peace.
Meeting at Chevening, the three ministers also affirmed their commitment to ensure that Hamas should be disarmed, disempowered and dismantled as part of the 20-point Gaza peace plan, so it can play no part in the future governance of Palestine, and pose no future threat to the security of Israel.
They also discussed the global rise in antisemitic hatred and violence, and reiterated their commitment to protect the freedom and safety of the Jewish communities that have been the target of appalling attacks in the UK, Australia and Canada over the past year.
Background
- The UK, Australia and Canada have each put in £1m to launch the Fund. Once operational, the Fund will seek to bring on other donors and scale up efforts.
- The Fund will complement diplomatic and humanitarian efforts by investing in the social and civic foundations needed for a sustainable peace and working with partners to mobilise wider international support.
- More information on the sanctions announced by the UK, Australia, Canada and further partners this week UK and allies sanction networks enabling settler violence in the West Bank
