Hackney Council to Deliberate on Haifa Twinning Agreement
East London's Hackney Council is poised to vote on a motion that could end its long-standing 'twin' city relationship with Haifa, Israel. This move, initiated following a change in council leadership, comes in response to the humanitarian situation in Gaza and calls from local advocacy groups.
The twinning declaration between the London Borough of Hackney and Haifa, Israel's third-largest city located on the Mediterranean coast north of Tel Aviv, was established on July 26, 1968. Its original intent was to foster 'friendly contacts and exchanges between ordinary citizens,' aligning with a broader tradition for UK cities to form international partnerships aimed at promoting cultural exchange, trade, and tourism.
According to council statements, the agreement with Haifa has been largely 'dormant' since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The council has also indicated that it 'will not engage in any twinning activity with Haifa whilst conflict is ongoing.' However, recent political shifts have brought the agreement under closer scrutiny, with calls for a complete termination of the partnership.
Political Shift and Intensified Calls for De-twinning
The issue gained significant traction during local elections in May, which saw the Green Party assume control of Hackney Council from the Labour Party. The Green Party has historically adopted a pro-Palestine stance and has openly expressed opposition to Israel's military actions in Gaza. Consequently, a motion is scheduled for a vote to formally end the agreement with Haifa and to review Hackney's other twinning programs.
Documents released by Hackney Council ahead of the vote confirm that petitions have been submitted urging the termination of the twinning relationship in protest against the conflict in Gaza and the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the enclave. In 2024, the Hackney Palestinian Solidarity Campaign formally requested the end of the partnership. While former Hackney Mayor Caroline Woodley had previously stated the agreement was 'inactive' and would be reviewed post-conflict, a cross-party motion was subsequently launched in October by the Greens and Hackney Independent Socialist Groups.
The council noted that public pressure has 'intensified' following a September report from the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory. This United Nations fact-finding mission accused Israeli forces of potential breaches of international law and the Genocide Convention in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where violence against Palestinians has reportedly increased. Residents have also raised concerns regarding Haifa's role as a primary naval facility and the global headquarters for defense manufacturers, including Elbit Systems.
Green Party's Stance and Future Twinning Vision
The Hackney Greens' electoral manifesto explicitly addressed the twinning relationship, stating: 'In Haifa, Palestinian people live under occupation and apartheid by the Israeli state; this is not a city that reflects Hackney’s values.' The party asserted that Hackney's twinning relationships should align with its values and not 'undermine them.'
The manifesto pledged that the Hackney Greens would seek to de-twin from Haifa at the 'earliest opportunity.' Furthermore, it committed to a comprehensive review of all existing twinning relationships that do not 'uphold equal human rights or participate in apartheid, systemic oppression or genocide,' and to 'explore new twinning models rooted in solidarity.' Alongside the motion to terminate the Haifa agreement, a cross-party twinning working group has also been proposed to guide future international partnerships.
Reactions from Jewish Community Representatives
The proposed de-twinning has drawn criticism from Jewish organizations in England. Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, which represents the UK's Jewish community, described the Greens' motion as 'spite over sense.' Rosenberg argued that if the Hackney Greens were genuinely interested in peace, they would 'celebrate Haifa, not censure it,' highlighting Haifa's identity as a mixed city led by a progressive mayor, with strong Green Party representation and increasing Arab councilor presence.
Haifa is notable for being Israel's largest mixed Arab-Jewish city. Since the start of the conflict in Gaza in October 2023, it has witnessed anti-war protests involving both Israeli and Palestinian residents, which have at times been dispersed by Israeli police.
Former Hackney Councillor and Labour MP Luke Akehurst also voiced strong disapproval, calling the motion 'performative and spiteful gesture politics.' Akehurst underscored the historical context of the twinning, noting that it originated from the significant Jewish community in Hackney with personal ties to Haifa. He characterized Haifa as a 'famously left-wing city' and a 'model for coexistence between Jews and Arabs.' Akehurst also pointed out that the twinning arrangement included beneficial medical exchanges between Homerton and Rambam hospitals, advocating for initiatives that foster understanding and peace rather than cancellation or boycotts.
According to Hackney Council, the 2021 census indicated that 6.7 percent of Hackney's population identified as Jewish, though the council acknowledged that this figure likely underestimated the actual number, particularly concerning children.
Other UK Cities with Israeli Twinning Agreements
The twinning arrangement between Hackney and Haifa is not unique among British cities. Newcastle, in northern England, also maintains a twinning agreement with Haifa. In the south, Bournemouth and Portsmouth are twinned with the Israeli resort city of Netanya. Furthermore, the London Borough of Barnet is twinned with Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv, and the civil parish of Elstree and Borehamwood in Hertfordshire has a twinning agreement with the Israeli town of Shoham.
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