Key Points
- Hackney Council voted in principle to end its 58-year-old historic twinning arrangement with the Israeli port city of Haifa, a partnership established back in 1968 that predominantly involves the exchange of medical staff between hospitals.
- As reported by various media sources, the newly elected Green Party Mayor of Hackney, Zoë Garbett, subsequently wrote a formal letter to Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav stating that the civic relationship “no longer reflects the strategic priorities of the council”.
- In her original correspondence, Mayor Garbett requested that Haifa’s administration provide their feedback and views on the termination proposal via email by October 7, 2026.
- The selection of the October 7 deadline—coinciding with the anniversary of the devastating 2023 Hamas terrorist attacks on southern Israel—drew fierce condemnation from major Jewish communal organisations, with figures like Phil Rosenberg accusing the Green leadership of showing “ignorance and bigotry”.
- Following severe backlash and accusations of deep insensitivity, Mayor Garbett issued an official apology, admitted that overlooking the significance of the date was “a serious mistake,” and extended the consultation deadline to October 14.
London (Extra London News) July 30, 2026 — Hackney Council’s newly installed Green administration has ignited a fierce political and communal storm after the borough’s mayor sent an official letter to the Israeli city of Haifa demanding a response regarding the termination of their decades-long twinning agreement by October 7.
The decision by Hackney’s leadership to sever ties with the ethnically and religiously diverse Israeli port city—and the specific choice of deadline mirroring the anniversary of the October 7 terror attacks—has triggered widespread condemnation from communal groups, opposition councillors, and national leaders alike.
Why did Hackney Council move to end its twinning arrangement with Haifa?
The diplomatic fallout began after Hackney Council voted in principle to dismantle a civic bond that has linked the East London borough with Haifa since 1968. Historically centered on the exchange of medical professionals and healthcare staff between local institutions, the partnership has now been abruptly upended by the borough’s shifting political landscape.
As reported by Annabel Sinclair of The Jewish News, Green Party Mayor Zoë Garbett communicated the council’s sweeping decision directly to Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav. In her official correspondence, Mayor Garbett asserted:
“As the directly elected Mayor, I wish to be transparent about my administration’s direction, as set out in my party’s manifesto: my administration is seeking to conclude this chapter of our civic history”.
Furthermore, Mayor Garbett stated to her Israeli counterpart, as noted by The Jewish News:
“Given the ongoing humanitarian crisis, and the gravity of the UN Commission of Inquiry Reports concluding Israel has committed genocide, maintaining a civic connection in Israel is at odds with our anti-racist values. The Council stands up for human rights and wants to ensure our global connections reflect our shared core values. We want active, ethical partnerships that champion peace”.
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How did Jewish leaders and political opponents react to the October 7 deadline?
The backlash was immediate and severe when it was revealed that Mayor Garbett had asked the Haifa municipal administration to submit their formal responses and views regarding the cancellation “by 7 October 2026”. October 7 marks the sombre anniversary of the 2023 Hamas terror attacks on southern Israel, which resulted in the slaughter of approximately 1,200 people.
As reported by the Evening Standard, Phil Rosenberg, the President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, harshly condemned the action, accusing the local Green leadership of displaying blatant “ignorance and bigotry.”
Additional communal bodies and campaign groups characterized the choice of date as “appalling” and “sickening”, pointing out the deep psychological pain associated with the date for Jewish communities both in the United Kingdom and globally.
Critics across the political spectrum—including Labour and Conservative councillors in Hackney—warned that the motion would inflict long-lasting damage on local community cohesion and interfaith relations within the borough.
What was Mayor Zoë Garbett’s response to the mounting controversy?
Facing intense pressure, scrutiny, and a formal Freedom of Information (FOI) request lodged by media organizations demanding internal council communications surrounding the scheduling choice, Mayor Garbett executed an about-face and issued a formal apology.
As detailed by the Hackney Citizen, Mayor Garbett dispatched a secondary follow-up letter to Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav, conceding that her initial scheduling was profoundly flawed. As reported by Annabel Sinclair of The Jewish News, Mayor Garbett wrote:
“I am aware that 7 October marks the anniversary of the horrific Hamas terrorist attacks, a day that carries profound grief and distress for many”.
Taking personal accountability for the blunder, Mayor Garbett explicitly stated in her second letter, as documented by the Hackney Citizen:
“As mayor, I take full responsibility for the correspondence issued under my name. Overlooking the significance of this date was insensitive and a serious mistake, and for this, I offer my sincere apologies”.
To rectify the administrative error, the Hackney Mayor formally extended the consultation window for the Haifa municipality, pushing the final deadline back by one week to October 14, 2026.
Despite the apology and the timeline extension, the core motion to terminate the 58-year-old civic partnership remains active, leaving local political tensions raw as the borough navigates the fallout of the contentious vote.
