Press Release
12 January 2017
Paris peace conference: Renewing hope for a two-state solution
On January 15, 2017, 70 foreign ministers and United Nations organisations will gather in Paris for an international
peace conference aimed at resuscitating the Israeli-Palestinian peace process and the two-state solution.
The conference will allow participants to reaffirm their commitment to the two-state solution and aims to spark a
resumption of peace talks between Palestine and Israel.
This French initiative began with an international peace conference in Paris on June 3, 2016. However, the initial
conference produced few concrete measures to be taken, which should be addressed on January 15.
The idea for the conference was a double-track approach—first a conference and then a separate meeting with the
Palestinians and Israelis to present them with the resulting recommendations. However, unfortunately the Israelis have
decided to boycott the conference, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu labelling it “aimless” and “futile”.
Despite Israeli rejection of the conference, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will meet with French President
François Hollande the day after, on January 16, to discuss its outcomes and recommendations. Israel’s rejection cannot
undermine the political significance of the conference for the Palestinians. Saeb Erekat, secretary- general of the
Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) described it as “the flicker of hope Palestine has been waiting for.”
Palestinians “are confident that it will provide a clear framework with defined parameters for the resumption of
negotiations.”
The conference represents a serious paradigm shift from bilateral to multilateral negotiations, which could prove more
successful in achieving peace. Palestinians expect to see a commitment by participants to the implementation of United
Nations (UN) resolutions, especially Security Council resolution 2334, and the creation of a mechanism and timeframe for
ending Israel’s occupation.