Hackney Council to Review Israeli Twinning Partnership

Hackney Council has voted to review its long-standing twinning partnership with Haifa, Israel. The decision, made at a council meeting on Tuesday, July 28, could lead to the termination of the 60-year relationship amid concerns over the humanitarian situation in Gaza.

The council agreed in principle to reconsider the partnership, a move that aligns with a commitment made by the Hackney Greens in their manifesto. A cross-party working group will now be established to examine all of Hackney’s historic twinning relationships, many of which have been inactive for years.

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Reasons for Review

Mayor of Hackney, Zoë Garbett, stated that maintaining a civic connection with Haifa, described as a military port city, is at odds with the council's anti-racist values. She referenced the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the UN Commission of Inquiry's reports, which concluded that Israel has committed genocide against Palestinians.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign has advocated for the severance of all civic ties with Israel, citing alleged violations of international law and the presence of arms manufacturer Elbit Systems in Haifa. Reports indicate the Hackney-Haifa partnership has primarily involved dormant hospital exchanges between Homerton Hospital and Rambam Medical Centre for approximately three decades.

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Opposition and Debate

The vote followed a contentious debate, the third on the subject in two years. Previous attempts to end the twinning were rejected by the former Labour administration. Opposition groups criticised the move as 'performative' and 'disgraceful', arguing it would divide communities and hinder dialogue.

Councillor Ben Lucas of the Labour party acknowledged abhorrence for the violence in Gaza and condemned Hamas attacks but described the review as a 'performative gesture'. He highlighted the partnership's origins in working-class solidarity in 1968 and its focus on medical cooperation.

Conservative Councillor Simche Steinberger expressed concern about naivete and the lack of engagement with Jewish members of the council. He noted that Haifa is a progressive city with a diverse council, including Green, Arab, and Communist representatives.

Future Steps

Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure, Resilience and Business Standards, Councillor Sam Mathys, will chair the cross-party working group. The group is tasked with exploring 'new, ethical twinning models', focusing on partnerships with municipalities involved in peacebuilding, climate justice, and local democracy movements. A final decision on the Haifa partnership is anticipated later this year.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews, through its president Phil Rosenberg, echoed criticisms, accusing the Green party of ignorance and bigotry. Rosenberg stated that Haifa is a model of coexistence and that celebrating it would be more constructive than censuring it.