Hackney Mayor Faces Backlash Over Haifa Twinning Deadline
A deadline set by Hackney's Green mayor for ending a twinning link with an Israeli city has drawn criticism.
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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.
Questions this report answers
+Why did Hackney Mayor Zoe Garbett propose ending the twinning with Haifa?
Zoe Garbett proposed ending the twinning because she believes maintaining a civic connection with Haifa, a military port city, conflicts with the council’s anti-racist values amid ongoing humanitarian concerns and UN reports. She also stated that partnerships should reflect shared values like peace and justice.
+What was the original deadline for Haifa’s response to the twinning proposal?
The original deadline for Haifa’s response was October 7, which coincided with the fourth anniversary of the Hamas attacks in southern Israel. This timing drew significant criticism from Jewish community groups and others.
+How has Hackney Council responded to the backlash over the twinning proposal?
Hackney Council issued an apology and revised the deadline for Haifa’s response to October 5. Councillor Sam Mathys confirmed that twinning relationships would be reviewed based on shared values such as peace, justice, and equality.
+What has been the nature of the Hackney-Haifa twinning relationship?
The twinning arrangement primarily involved hospital exchanges between Homerton Hospital and Rambam Medical Centre, a partnership that has existed for about 30 years but has been paused since the Covid-19 pandemic.
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