The United Kingdom, Australia, and Canada have launched a £3 million (about $4 million) peace initiative aimed at supporting reconciliation efforts between Israelis and Palestinians and addressing the root causes of their long-standing conflict.
The programme, known as the International Peace Fund, is designed to promote dialogue and advance efforts toward a two-state solution.
It will support grassroots projects, youth initiatives, and civil society organisations working to build peace and improve relations between both communities.
The initiative draws on peacebuilding lessons from Northern Ireland and the Western Balkans, focusing on strengthening local efforts that encourage trust and cooperation.
UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said “the fund would help individuals and organisations committed to improving understanding between Israelis and Palestinians, stressing the importance of sustained grassroots engagement in achieving lasting peace”.
The fund will be officially launched at Chevening House in a meeting involving Penny Wong and Anita Anand.
Each country has contributed £1 million to establish the fund, which is expected to attract additional international support. Beneficiaries of the programme have not yet been announced.
“The ministers are also expected to discuss wider Middle East security issues, including tensions involving Iran and maritime security in the Strait of Hormuz, as well as concerns over rising antisemitic incidents in their countries”.
Earlier in the week, the three nations, along with France and Norway, imposed sanctions on Israeli settlers accused of violence in the occupied West Bank.
