4-12 JULY, 2025

In July, a team of five emerging leaders from Israel and Palestine arrived in Washington, D.C. with a shared vision for the future in the region and a plan to achieve it. Representing the Phoenix Framework, a peacebuilding roadmap written by these and other emerging leaders from the region, these delegates brought bold, actionable solutions directly to the heart of U.S. and international policy discussions.

Over 10 powerful days, the delegation, organized by New Story Leadership (NSL), met with Members of Congress, EU Representatives, senior foreign diplomats, prominent Middle East-focused think tanks, and interfaith groups throughout the District. Embodying the Phoenix slogan “Don’t talk about us without us,” the delegation sought to place those with regional expertise and lived experience of the conflict in the room where solutions are discussed, addressing the region’s most urgent crises and advancing long-term plans for peace.    

BI-PARTISAN CONGRESSIONAL ADVOCACY

On Capitol Hill, the Phoenix team cultivated bipartisan engagement. Congressional offices, both Democratic and Republican, responded with interest and excitement to the delegates’ insights and the Framework’s detailed approach to post-conflict reconstruction, governance reform, and trauma recovery. Several policymakers and staff offered appreciation for the Framework’s innovation and offered strategic feedback on its content. Opportunities were also discussed for the continued support of Phoenix’s work, including the expansion of its coalition of champions through roundtables, backchannel advocacy, and the representation of Phoenix delegates at future peacebuilding discussions. 

INTERNATIONAL ACTORS  

The momentum didn’t stop with U.S. leadership. The delegation met with the French Ambassador, MENA officials, and diplomatic staff who recognized the Phoenix Framework as a credible and essential roadmap for peace. France, increasingly vocal in international peace efforts, signaled interest in continued collaboration, especially regarding reconstruction in Gaza and broader EU engagement.

The team also met with the European Union’s diplomatic core, briefing a roundtable of 16 Member State Representatives, the Deputy EU Representative, and the former Former Secretary for MENA at the EU. The meeting concluded with commitments for tangible next steps, including proposed briefings at the EU Parliament and further integration of the Phoenix Framework into multilateral peacebuilding discussions.

THE MIDDLE EAST INSTITUTE

At the Middle East Institute (MEI), Phoenix delegates led a roundtable with experts across the diplomacy, intelligence, humanitarian response, and foreign policy fields. They outlined detailed proposals on trauma-informed healing, transitional justice, and the rebuilding of Gaza as part of a broader shift toward responsive governance. The presence of former Camp David and Taba talks negotiators and U.S. policy influencers signaled a growing appetite in Washington for civil society and youth-led solutions.