Britain, Australia and Canada launch joint peace fund to support Israeli-Palestinian coexistence

Britain, Australia and Canada on Thursday announced a new £3 million ($4 million) peace fund aimed at supporting grassroots initiatives that promote coexistence and advance efforts toward a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Each country will contribute £1 million ($1.34 million) to the initiative, which is designed to complement wider diplomatic efforts to achieve lasting peace in the region.

According to the British government, the fund will back both new and existing community-based projects, with a particular focus on programs involving young people, civil society groups and women. The initiative aims to strengthen dialogue, cooperation and trust-building between Israelis and Palestinians at the local level.

The three governments also said the fund is intended to grow over time by attracting additional international donors and expanding its reach once operational.

The announcement comes ahead of a meeting in Britain involving UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Canadian Foreign Minister Anita Anand, where discussions are expected to focus on regional stability and efforts to revive prospects for peace.