Hackney's Green-led council has voted to trigger a controversial review into the borough's twinning with the Israeli port city of Haifa, potentially ending the decades-long partnership this year. At a full council meeting on July 28, the council agreed 'in principle' to terminate the sister cities partnership, fulfilling the Hackney Greens' manifesto commitment to do so 'as soon as possible.'
Council establishes cross-party working group
The council has agreed to establish a cross-party working group to review all of Hackney's historic twinning relationships, several of which have been dormant for decades. The working group, chaired by Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure, Resilience and Business Standards, Cllr Sam Mathys, will explore 'new, ethical twinning models with a focus on partnering with municipalities engaged in peacebuilding, climate justice, and local democracy movements.' The final decision is expected later in the year.
Mayor cites humanitarian crisis and UN findings
Mayor of Hackney, Zoë Garbett, said: 'Given the ongoing humanitarian crisis, and the gravity of the UN Commission of Inquiry Reports concluding Israel has committed genocide, maintaining a civic connection with what is widely recognised [as] a military port city is fundamentally at odds with our anti-racist values.'
Partnership largely limited to hospital exchanges
Council reports state the Hackney-Haifa 'sister cities' partnership has been largely limited to hospital exchanges between Homerton Hospital and Rambam Medical Centre, stretching back roughly three decades. These exchanges have lain dormant since being paused amid the Covid-19 pandemic. The partnership was originally forged in 1968 in a spirit of working-class solidarity.
Opposition criticizes move as 'performative'
Opposition groups attacked the move as 'performative' and 'disgraceful,' emphasizing the partnership's civic aspect. Cllr Ben Lucas (Labour) said his party was 'unequivocal in our abhorrence of the devastation and violence in Gaza caused by the Israeli government, and we utterly condemn the Hamas terrorist attacks,' but criticised what he called a 'performative gesture' that would divide communities. Conservative Cllr Simche Steinberger attacked the ruling party for moving to terminate 'the only twinning' that had established a medical exchange in Hackney, and lambasted the lack of engagement with his six-strong group of Jewish members. 'To be quite frank, I think this is naivete more than anything else. The only winner in all of this is going to be Haifa. It's a disgrace,' he said.
Green councillors defend decision
Green councillors hit back. Cabinet Member for Finance, Cllr Florence Schechter, invoked her 'deeply-held' Jewish heritage and values as she denounced the 'horrors' committed by Israel that she said were endangering Jews in the UK. 'If the people in Britain want to fight rising antisemitism, the first thing we must do is condemn the genocide in Palestine,' she said.
Protests and reactions
Tuesday's vote was preceded by protests and counter-protests outside the Town Hall, where one Pro-Palestine activist was apparently captured throwing an egg at opponents. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) praised Hackney Council for kickstarting the process to cut ties and said they hoped the move would encourage other councils to follow suit. However, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Phil Rosenberg, accused the Greens of showing their 'ignorance and bigotry.' 'Haifa is a diverse city, widely seen as a model of ethnic and religious coexistence. The city is led by a progressive mayor and its council includes representatives from Green, Arab, and Communist parties. If the Hackney Greens had any genuine interest in peace, they would celebrate Haifa, not censure it. This vote represents the prioritization of spite over sense,' he said.
Background and next steps
The vote followed a heated debate, the third on the issue in two years, after de-twinning was twice rejected by the previous Labour administration. The cross-party working group will now review all twinning relationships, with a final decision expected later in the year.
