Since opening its Berlin office in 2023, ALLMEP has made German Advocacy a key part of its European strategy. Led by Luisa Siemens, the European Advocacy Manager, the focus has been on building support for an International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace and promoting the role of civil society peacebuilding in Germany’s policy towards Israel-Palestine.
Last week, members of ALLMEP’s European and Regional team convened in Berlin for meetings with political and civil society partners in the German capital. The team met with the MENA-Team of the foreign office to discuss ALLMEP’s work and the situation on the ground for our members. ALLMEP also co-hosted an event at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) titled ‘Investing in Peace: Women-Led Civil Society Peacebuilding Efforts in Israel-Palestine’. The participants included representatives from international embassies in Berlin, German government officials, and women peacebuilders from Israel-Palestine.
The roundtable, conducted under Chatham House rules, brought to the forefront the urgent challenges faced by women peacebuilders in Israel-Palestine, underscoring the critical need for the international community to protect, empower, and strategically invest in the civil society organizations driving peace, justice, and equality within and between both communities. The conversation spotlighted the pioneering role of Israeli and Palestinian women in grassroots movements and civil society initiatives, and the pressing need to include their voices in formal peace negotiations. Drawing powerful comparisons to the women’s movement in Northern Ireland and the pivotal role women played in securing the Good Friday Agreement, the discussion revealed a stark contrast in Israel-Palestine, where, despite their leadership on the ground, women remain sidelined from formal political processes. Participants advocated for a civil society–led approach that moves beyond token representation, emphasizing the need to fully integrate the ideas and contributions of women and youth into decision-making processes. One speaker emphasized the urgent need to dismantle the barriers that prevent women from entering the political sphere, creating pathways for both Israeli and Palestinian women to amplify their voices in shaping a more inclusive and effective peace process:
“Women are active on the level of civil society. But they are not represented at the official level. There is a glass ceiling that women need to break to be at that level.”
The discussion also delved into the status quo that has evolved since the Oslo Accords, a trajectory that has increasingly moved toward the normalization of occupation and a deepening divide between Israelis and Palestinians. Years of neglect, international deprioritization, and diplomatic procrastination have culminated in what is now the most devastating chapter of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. On the ground, organizations like ‘A Land for All’ are working to redirect this political path towards a future where both Israelis and Palestinians acknowledge each other’s humanity and their shared rights to peace, freedom, and security. At this point, speakers emphasized the importance of defining these concepts clearly. “Security” cannot be confined to military terms; it must be a concept that applies equally to both sides, where Israeli security is not achieved at the expense of Palestinian lives. Likewise, “peace” cannot be attained without justice, nor without safeguarding the rights of civilians on both sides. Any peace process must not only resolve the conflict but also ensure safety, prosperity, and trust for both Israeli and Palestinian communities. One participant stated:
“When people ask ‘what is security?’ – for me, that means climate [action], public health, protection for women under the law, children have a safe home, water and that I know that until [a Palestinian mother’s] son is safe and secure, my son will not be safe and secure.”
The discussion concluded with a resolute and hopeful call to action, underscoring our collective responsibility to support the efforts of Israelis and Palestinians on the ground who are striving for a peaceful resolution to the conflict. In response to questions about the perceived gap between the realities on the ground and the hopeful vision shared by speakers from Israel-Palestine, participants sought practical recommendations for how the international community—particularly Germany—can help shift the status quo, offering a range of suggestions: they stressed the importance of raising the visibility of their work, providing sustained and coordinated funding via an International Fund for Israeli-Palestinian Peace and connecting grassroots efforts to broader international networks. They urged the international community to demand answers, ask tough questions about the future of a two-state solution, and hold both sides accountable to their commitments. The need for a unified, collaborative approach was also highlighted: the ideas for peace must be both created and owned by Israelis and Palestinians together, but they must also be echoed and supported internationally to create a new conversation that moves us toward a sustainable solution. The discussion ended with a powerful statement from one of the speakers:
“The conflict won’t end tomorrow. But the conflict won’t end if we don’t end it. And I say ‘we’ because we have all been part of the status quo. And we should be – it’s our joint responsibility – as Israelis, Palestinians, and Germans – to end this conflict.”
