ACR is happy to publish this press release from Palestine Solidarity activists in Hackney

Campaigners are calling on opponents across Britain of Israel’s genocide in Gaza and its apartheid system to take part in Hackney Council’s consultation on whether the London borough should end its 58-year twinning relationship with Haifa, Israel’s third largest city. The response deadline is Wednesday 14 October.

The consultation, “Hackney’s Global Future: Reviewing Our International Partnerships”, is open to people beyond the borough and Britain. Activists believe the online consultation is likely drawing responses from Zionist supporters internationally. They are calling for people in Britain who oppose Zionism—especially Hackney residents—to respond in large numbers so that their views are clearly represented.

The campaign brings together Jewish Voice for Liberation, Hackney for Palestine, Hackney Palestine Solidarity Campaign and organisers of the Town Hall divestment encampment. Campaigners want the consultation to reflect informed UK and local opinion, rather than being dominated by an internationally mobilised response from supporters of Israel aiming to block the detwinning.

Years of local campaigning—including a petition signed by more than 1,000 Hackney residents in 2024, a postcard campaign, council lobbies, demonstrations and a two-month encampment—helped bring the issue before the previous Labour Council, which refused to act, but also considered the twinning relationship dormant. In opposition, the Greens and Hackney Independent Socialists secured an emergency council debate in 2025 calling for an end to all links with Israel. In July, the new Green-led council voted to begin the formal process of ending the 1968 agreement, including the current consultation.

Campaigners say the partnership should end because of systemic discrimination against Haifa’s Palestinian citizens and the fact that it is a key Israeli military and weapons hub.

Amanda Bentham, a member of Hackney Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said: “Hackney Green Party made a commitment to detwinning from Haifa in its manifesto and in the May elections we saw a Green tsunami.  Hackney is proud to be a progressive, anti-racist borough that actively supported the anti-apartheid movement in South Africa.

“It is time to cut the link with Haifa, where Palestinians are treated as second-class citizens. Haifa is home to the headquarters of Elbit Systems, which manufactures combat drones, precision-guided munitions and electronic warfare systems.”

She added: “During the July debate on de-twinning, Labour councillor Ben Lucas claimed that the relationship originated in a ‘spirit of working-class solidarity’. But when we speak to people while leafleting in Hackney, many residents are unaware of the link with Haifa, but are opposed once they know.”

Jonathan Rosenhead of Hackney Jewish Voice for Liberation said: “Ending this partnership is not an attack on Jewish people. It is a principled response to Israel’s conduct and a step towards making Hackney’s international relationships consistent with justice, equal rights and freedom of expression. With Zionist organisations worldwide likely to mobilise responses, it is vital that anti-Zionist voices in Hackney and across the UK are heard too.”

Heather Mendick, one of the organisers of the 2024 divestment camp outside Hackney Town Hall, said: “The camp was part of years of determined local campaigning, from petitions and postcards to council lobbies and demonstrations. Residents kept this issue in public view because they wanted the council to act. The consultation is now a direct opportunity to help bring this discredited partnership to an end.”

Respond to the consultation:https://consultation.hackney.gov.uk/chief-executives/twinning/. The deadline is 14 October.

Campaigners are also inviting residents and all Hackney councillors to a public meeting on Sunday 11 October, 7–8.30pm, at Gascoyne One Community Centre, E9 7FA. The meeting will provide an opportunity to hear local views and discuss the next steps in the campaign.

ENDS
 Media enquiries: Jonathan Rosenhead — J.Rosenhead@lse.ac.uk, 07969 961775; Amanda Bentham — amandabentham@hotmail.com, 07891 058130.