Euroviews. Ms Kallas, from day one, prioritise civil society for lasting Israeli-Palestinian peace

Every day, there are hundreds of thousands of Israelis and Palestinians working tirelessly for peace.

They are parents and children, nurses and teachers, academics and artists, social workers and engineers. Their efforts reflect the lives and aspirations of their diverse communities, deeply connected to the land.

Together, these individuals represent the everyday people of Israel and Palestine striving for a future built on safety and mutual respect.

The peace and dignity they seek are not lofty ideals but the basic building blocks of a just and secure life for all people, everywhere.

With historic events playing out before our eyes in Syria and rumours of material progress toward an urgently needed ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza, it is clear that the Middle East is in a moment of era-defining transition.

It is vital that 2025 is a year when diplomacy rather than violence comes to the fore and where civil society peacebuilders are equipped to play a leading role in shaping events.

The societal conditions for sustainable peace cannot simply be imposed from above. They must be built from the ground up, anchored in the shared efforts of civil society, which in turn can catalyse the profound political change and diplomatic openings that are needed.

Over decades of conflict, it is these grassroots initiatives that have fostered understanding, trust, and cooperation when official diplomacy has failed.

Yet, such efforts have so often been overlooked and underfunded by the very actors who claim to support sustainable peace.

Under Josep Borrell’s leadership, the European Union began to recognise the pivotal role of civil society in this process. Under his leadership, steps were taken to institutionalise support for