Key facts
- Hackney Council in London is set to vote on ending its 56-year twinning agreement with Haifa, Israel.
- The proposal is led by the Green Party, which now holds a majority on the council.
- Reasons cited include Israel's alleged occupation and apartheid against Palestinians.
- Campaigners have also called for the council to divest its pension fund from companies connected to Israel's military.
- Haifa is the global headquarters for Elbit Systems, Israel's largest arms manufacturer.
Hackney Council in north London is expected to vote on ending its 56-year twinning agreement with the Israeli city of Haifa. The proposal, brought forward by the Green Party which now controls the council, cites Israel's alleged occupation and apartheid against Palestinians as reasons for severing ties.
The Green Party, holding 42 of the council's 57 seats, has made ending the partnership a key election promise. Palestine solidarity groups have campaigned for years to terminate the agreement, established in 1968, with pressure intensifying after the start of Israel's military actions in Gaza in October 2023.
Campaigners argue that maintaining civic relations with Haifa normalizes what they describe as the 'racist domination' imposed on Palestinians. They also highlight Haifa's role as the global headquarters for Elbit Systems, Israel's largest arms manufacturer. The Hackney Greens stated that Haifa does not reflect the borough's values.
Previous opposition to ending the agreement came from within the Labour party. Labour councillor Michael Desmond had previously described demands to end the arrangement as an 'appalling, abusive tirade,' while Labour MP Luke Akehurst called the Greens' move 'performative and spiteful gesture politics.'