Hackney’s 60-Year Partnership with Israeli City Faces Uncertain Future Amidst Heated Debate

Hackney’s Green-led council has initiated a contentious review concerning its twinning arrangement with the Israeli port city of Haifa, potentially leading to the dissolution of this long-standing partnership. During a full council meeting held on Tuesday, July 28, members agreed “in principle” to terminate the sister cities connection, aligning with the Green Party’s manifesto commitment to pursue this course of action expeditiously. The council has resolved to form a cross-party working group tasked with evaluating all of Hackney’s historic twinning relationships, many of which have remained inactive for years.

Concerns Over Humanitarian Issues

Hackney’s Mayor, Zoë Garbett, articulated the council’s position, stating, “Given the ongoing humanitarian crisis and the gravity of the UN Commission of Inquiry Reports concluding that Israel has committed genocide, maintaining a civic connection with what is widely recognised as a military port city fundamentally contradicts our anti-racist values.” Council documentation indicates that the partnership with Haifa has primarily revolved around hospital exchanges between Homerton Hospital and Rambam Medical Centre over the past three decades, although these exchanges have been largely dormant since being halted due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) has taken a firm stance, asserting that all civic ties should be severed in protest against the “racist domination” experienced by Palestinians. They contend that Israel’s alleged violations of international law are further facilitated by the arms manufacturer Elbit Systems, which is based in Haifa. This vote followed a spirited debate, marking the third discussion on the topic in two years, as previous attempts to end the twinning were rejected by the previous Labour administration.

Opposition Criticism and Defence

Opposing factions have condemned the decision as “performative” and “disgraceful,” stressing the civic nature of the partnership. Labour Councillor Ben Lucas expressed his party’s unequivocal opposition to the violence in Gaza, yet characterised the move as a “performative gesture” that risks dividing communities. “The resident-led twinning with Haifa was established in 1968, nearly 60 years ago, in a spirit of working-class solidarity. It’s multi-faith, multi-ethnic, and built on the noble idea of medical cooperation,” he remarked, arguing that dismantling the civic link would signal abandonment rather than solidarity.

Conservative Councillor Simche Steinberger also condemned the ruling party’s decision to terminate “the only twinning” that facilitated medical exchanges in Hackney. He accused the council of failing to engage with his small group of Jewish members and characterised the move as naïve, suggesting that Haifa would ultimately benefit from the situation. He noted that the Green Party constitutes the “second-biggest” group on the progressive Haifa city council.

Green Councillors Respond

Green councillors countered these criticisms, with Cabinet Member for Finance, Councillor Florence Schechter, citing her “deeply-held” Jewish heritage as she condemned the “horrors” inflicted by Israel, which she claimed jeopardise Jewish communities in the UK. “If the people in Britain want to combat rising antisemitism, the first step must be to denounce the genocide in Palestine,” she stated. Councillor Sam Mathys, the Cabinet Member for Culture, Leisure, Resilience and Business Standards, emphasised that the forthcoming working group would be a collaborative effort, inviting opposition members to participate in the process.

As of Wednesday, July 29, the council confirmed that the working group would investigate “new, ethical twinning models with a focus on partnering with municipalities engaged in peacebuilding, climate justice, and local democracy movements.” A final decision regarding the twinning relationship is anticipated to be put to a vote later in the year.

Protests Surrounding the Decision

Tuesday’s council vote was preceded by both protests and counter-protests outside the Town Hall, where a pro-Palestine activist was reportedly seen throwing an egg at opposing demonstrators. The PSC praised Hackney Council for initiating the process to cut ties with Haifa, expressing hope that this decision would inspire other councils to take similar actions. However, Phil Rosenberg, President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, echoed the criticisms voiced during the council meeting, accusing the Greens of ignorance and bigotry. He remarked, “Haifa is a diverse city, widely regarded 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 a prioritisation of spite over sense.”

For further stories or updates, please contact josef.steen@reachplc or follow @jslondonldr on X. Stay informed about the latest developments in East London by subscribing to the MyEastLondon newsletter.