Two States, One Union: Young Israelis and Palestinians Sign a Federal Charter
Young World Federalists supported this summit with a $500 grant toward the venue.
On 15 and 16 October 2026, about 80 young Israelis and Palestinians met near the Dead Sea for the Young Federalists Summit. Over two days they set up a permanent joint committee, worked through how a federal union of Israel and Palestine could function, and signed a shared Federal Charter. The summit took place eleven days before Israel's general election.
The event was organised by Federal Future, an Israeli youth movement, and the Democracy and Federalism Hub Palestine. Together they work as the Young Federalists, a joint Israeli-Palestinian grassroots movement. Representatives of JEF Europe, the Young European Federalists, also took part, and JEF published its own account of the summit.
Two days at the Dead Sea
The summit opened on Thursday evening with the launch of the Joint Federal Committee, a standing body of Israeli and Palestinian members, and a session for participants to get to know each other. Organised buses brought participants from Jerusalem and Ramallah.
Friday began with interactive exhibits on federal systems and an opening plenary in which the movement's founders told their stories. Diplomats sent greetings, among them Belgium's Deputy Consul General. Participants then split into policy simulations on constitutional compromise, open borders and regional governance.
The day closed with a voting assembly on demands to put to political leaders, followed by the signing of the Federal Charter.
What the charter proposes
Before the summit, co-leaders Nitsan Gatt and Bilasan Karabsa set out the plan in an op-ed in the Jerusalem Post and a Hebrew version in Mekomit. They argue that neither absolute separation nor a forced single state answers the conflict.
Their framework is a union of two independent states along the 1967 borders, with a united Jerusalem as the shared capital. Shared institutions with equal representation would run the economy, natural resources and external defence, while each state keeps control of its internal affairs. The plan adds freedom of movement and a regional security partnership.
The principle behind it, in their words: "neither state will ever control the other demographically, politically, or economically."
Why YWF backed it
Young World Federalists funds small youth-led events that make the case for shared institutions over division. This one did it in one of the hardest places on earth to make that case.
"A federal Israel and Palestine is not the destination but a step toward it," said Eston McKeague, President of Young World Federalists. "The same logic that lets two peoples share sovereignty here is the logic that lets all nations share it."
What comes next
All 80 participants signed the charter and committed to working groups under the Joint Federal Committee. The committee is now holding its first meetings, with a professional moderator to lead ongoing policy and dialogue sessions.
Running a youth event for world federalism where you live? See how YWF supports young organisers.
About the organisers
Federal Future is an Israeli youth movement for a federal political framework. The Democracy and Federalism Hub Palestine is its Palestinian partner. Together they run the Young Federalists. Federal Future is led by Nitsan Gatt and Vered Bar Lev, and DFH Palestine by Younes Al Samman and Bilasan Karabsa.
