Palestine / Israel

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The members of the CIDSE working group on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict – Broederlijk Delen, CAFOD, CCFD, Cordaid, Misereor and Trócaire – are actively involved in the region through partners in Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories (oPt) and through northern-based advocacy. Together with their partners, they want to achieve a just peace leading to self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians. Their efforts are inspired by the principles of Catholic social teaching and rooted in the respect for International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL).

The group wants to promote political support at the EU level for a just peace based on international law for Israelis and Palestinians.

• By lobbying and conducting advocacy work at the EU and national level.
• By exchanging information amongst the working group members and partners and having discussion    platforms open to other CIDSE member organisations.
• By linking the EU’s policies to IHL, HRL and UN resolutions and making recommendations based on international law.

They believe it is essential to emphasise that justice is rooted in the application of International Humanitarian Law, Human Rights Law and the relevant UN resolutions, and make this the basis for their policy recommendations and platform building.

They work alongside and in exchange with our partners to reduce poverty and bring about peace through development and humanitarian programmes.

The key objectives of the group are:

• To provoke a public discourse to reframe the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in terms of IHL and IHRL, emphasizing their importance as a condition for peace.
• To encourage decision makers to bridge the gap between the EU's declarative and operational policies, thus preventing EU's cooperation with policies that violate IHL or IHRL.

Their overall goals are:

• An end to the unlawful use of force against civilians on both sides
• Discontinuation of occupation measures violating IHL and IHRL
• Immediate steps to end the de-development of Palestinian society and economy
• Support for an inclusive peace process
• Realisation of the self-determination of both the Palestinian and Israeli people