How a new International Peace Fund could make a tangible difference

Sometimes, good things happen. At a time when so many international actors are devoting energy to actions that polarise rather than unite, Australia, the United Kingdom, and Canada have announced the establishment of a new International Peace Fund for Israelis and Palestinians, representing a rare moment of coordinated, forward-looking diplomacy.

The Peace Fund will invest in programmes that advance a two-state solution, help reduce division, strengthen civil society, and support dialogue and cooperation within and between Israeli and Palestinian communities, building the foundations for peace.

In practice, that means grassroots peacebuilding and civil society organisations like Seeds of Peace, where I work, will have access to increased funds to grow our reach and increase the number of Israelis and Palestinians working towards transforming the conflict.

The initial commitment, with each nation contributing seed funding is modest: just £1 million (approximately A$1.9 million) over three years. Furthermore, the initiative arrives when immediate prospects for a negotiated two-state solution appear exceedingly unlikely. It's understandable that it may be met with scepticism after years of failed negotiations and entrenched violence, which has only worsened in recent years.

Yet evaluating this fund solely through its financial scale misinterprets its strategic purpose. The initiative is not a peace treaty, nor an immediate remedy for war, occupation, terrorism, or systemic violence. Instead, it represents a shift towards long-term conflict transformation, recognising that political frameworks are unsustainable without a corresponding social infrastructure to support them.