Hackney Mayor Faces Backlash Over Haifa Twinning Deadline

Hackney Council mayor Zoe Garbett has faced criticism after proposing to end a twinning relationship with the Israeli city of Haifa. Ms Garbett wrote to Haifa's mayor, Yona Yahav, requesting a response by October 7 regarding the council's intention to sever the link.

The chosen date of October 7 marks the fourth anniversary of the Hamas attacks in southern Israel. This timing prompted a strong reaction from the Board of Deputies of British Jews. Phil Rosenberg, its president, accused the Greens of demonstrating 'ignorance and bigotry'.

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Mr Rosenberg stated that Haifa is a diverse city, seen as a model of coexistence, with a progressive mayor and a council including Green, Arab, and Communist representatives. He suggested that if the Hackney Greens were interested in peace, they should celebrate Haifa rather than censure it, calling the move 'spite over sense'.

Hackney Council has since issued an apology and revised the deadline for Haifa's response to October 5. A council report indicated that the twinning arrangement between Hackney and Haifa had been limited primarily to hospital exchanges between Homerton Hospital and Rambam Medical Centre. This partnership has been in place for approximately three decades but has been paused since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Councillor Sam Mathys, cabinet lead for culture, stated that reviewing the council's twinning links is a commitment of the current administration. He expressed pride in leading this work, adding that civic partnerships should be based on shared values, peace, justice, and equality. Councillor Mathys confirmed that twinning relationships would be reviewed through this lens, with recommendations to be presented at a future council meeting.

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Mayor Garbett said the council upholds human rights and wants its global connections to reflect shared core values, seeking active, ethical partnerships that champion peace. She added that given the ongoing humanitarian crisis and UN Commission of Inquiry reports concluding Israel has committed genocide, maintaining a civic connection with Haifa, recognised as a military port city, is at odds with their anti-racist values.