About 80 young Palestinians and Israelis gathered at the Dead Se for the first Federalist Peace Summit, demonstrating that even in times of profound division and conflict, a shared vision for peace, democracy and a federal future is possible.

JEF Europe participated in the Federalist Peace Summit, organised by its partners Democracy and Federalism Hub Palestine (DFH Palestine) and Federal Future Israel. Despite significant political and logistical obstacles, including checkpoints, road closures and restrictions on freedom of movement, participants travelled from across Palestine and Israel to take part.

The summit represents the latest milestone of the Federalist Peace Forum, an initiative supported by JEF Europe to bring together young Palestinians, Israelis and Europeans around a shared commitment to peace, democracy and federalism. The initiative began with a first trilateral gathering on the Italian island of Ventotene in September 2025, bringing together young people from both sides to explore federalism as a framework for coexistence, self-determination and lasting peace. Since then, the initiative has developed into a growing movement, including further exchanges in Brussels, the establishment of Palestinian and Israeli federalist youth organisations, and continued dialogue with political representatives and civil society.

Imagining a Shared Federal Future

The summit featured contributions from JEF Europe President Moritz Hergl and Executive Board Member Dvir Aviam Ezra, who emphasised the importance of youth-led dialogue, solidarity and federalism as a means of overcoming entrenched political divisions. A central element of the programme was a simulation of a future joint Palestinian-Israeli Federal Parliament. Participants engaged in political discussions and negotiations on issues such as freedom of movement, religion and security.

Through this exercise, young Palestinians and Israelis demonstrated how a federal political framework could offer a space for democratic negotiation, shared institutions and the protection of individual and collective rights. Rather than accepting division and conflict as inevitable, the participants explored what it would mean to build a political future together, based on equality, mutual recognition and democratic participation.

A Federal Charter for Peace and Cooperation

An important part of the initiative is the Federal Charter, which sets out a shared vision and principles for a peaceful, democratic and federal future for Palestinians and Israelis. It provides an opportunity for individuals to express their support for a future based on cooperation rather than confrontation, equal rights rather than domination, and shared democratic institutions rather than permanent division.

The Charter is open for signatures and endorsements:

Read and sign the Federal Charter

The initiative also seeks to contribute to the broader public debate on the future of Israel and Palestine. Members of the Federalist Peace Forum team have outlined their vision and arguments in an opinion article published by The Jerusalem Post.

Read the opinion article in The Jerusalem Post

Building Political Support for Peace

Alongside the summit, the JEF Europe delegation conducted a series of political and advocacy meetings in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv and Ramallah, engaging with diplomats, political representatives and public figures from both Palestinian and Israeli society.

The JEF Europe delegation consisted of President Moritz Hergl, Executive Board Member Dvir Aviam-Ezra, Federal Committee Member Federico Tosi and Senior Policy Officer Jan Gert Zevenbergen. These meetings form part of JEF Europe’s ongoing efforts to build international support for the Federalist Peace Forum, strengthen connections with civil society and political stakeholders, and explore opportunities for future cooperation.