The project seeks to revive the two-state solution by promoting informed, inclusive, rights-based public discourse among Palestinian civil society and strengthening constructive advocacy for a negotiated, internationally grounded resolution of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Decades after the Oslo Accords established a framework for a negotiated two-state solution, the political and social conditions for achieving such an outcome have deteriorated significantly. Protracted conflict, recurring violence, settlement expansion, territorial fragmentation, restrictions on civic space, and declining public confidence in peace have made meaningful dialogue and political engagement increasingly difficult. At the same time, Palestinian civil society organizations (CSOs) continue to play a critical role in sustaining communities, defending human rights, promoting social cohesion, delivering essential services and engaging with international actors.

Despite their close links to local communities and their potential to shape public attitudes and political discourse, Palestinian CSOs have generally remained peripheral to formal peace and political processes. Moreover, Palestinian civil society is diverse, reflecting different political perspectives, constituencies, priorities and lived experiences. A better understanding of these positions is therefore essential to developing credible and inclusive approaches to renewed engagement on a negotiated two-state outcome.

The project aims at generating evidence-based knowledge on Palestinian CSOs’ perceptions of, and conditions for engagement with, the two-state solution. This will be complemented by civic dialogue and consultation among diverse civil society actors through roundtable meetings and webinars, as well as by short-form video/reels.