Key Points:
- The Decision: The Green-led Hackney Council in east London is taking initial steps to formally sever its six-decade-old “twinning” partnership with the Israeli city of Haifa, as reported by Josef Steen of the Local Democracy Reporter Service (LDRS).
- Historical Background: Hackney Council originally entered into the sister-city arrangement with Haifa in 1968 to foster friendly exchanges and ordinary citizen contacts.
- Catalyst for Change: Following the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war in October 2023, pro-Palestinian groups, the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), and local Green politicians faced mounting pressure to cancel the partnership. The Green Party subsequently pledged during the May local elections to scrap the arrangement if they won power.
- Immediate Backlash: The de-twinning initiative has sparked a sharp backlash, with critics accusing the administration of driving social division and creating a hostile environment for the Jewish community.
- Accusations of Incitement: Martin Sugarman, chair of the Hackney Anglo-Israel Friendship Association (HAIFA), asserted that the move amounts to “an incitement to hate Jews and Zionists and Israelis”.
- Next Steps: A cross-party working group is proposed to review the policy, while the full council prepares to vote on July 28, 2026, on formally engaging the Haifa municipality regarding the termination.
London (Extra London News) July 25, 2026 – A controversial municipal partnership between an east London borough and an Israeli city is facing termination after nearly sixty years, igniting a fierce row over community cohesion and accusations that the local authority is stoking antisemitism. The Green-led Hackney Council has initiated the formal procedure to sever its historic sister-city ties with Haifa, a move that has drawn swift condemnation from community groups and local figures who warn it will alienate Jewish residents.
Why Is Hackney Council Ending Its Twinning Arrangement With Haifa?
As reported by Josef Steen of the Hackney Citizen, the decision to review and terminate the relationship stems from mounting political pressure following the escalation of the Israel-Hamas conflict in late 2023. Hackney Council initially established the twinning arrangement with Haifa back in 1968, with the stated objective to
“encourage friendly contacts and exchanges between the ordinary citizens”.
However, in the wake of subsequent military actions in the Gaza Strip and allegations brought forward by international bodies such as Amnesty International regarding war crimes, local activist networks—including the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC)—intensified their lobbying efforts.
Activists demanded that the local authority divest its pension funds from entities connected to the Israeli military and completely sever municipal links.
Capitalising on this momentum, the Green Party made a formal manifesto pledge during the May local elections to dissolve the partnership if they secured a mandate. Following their electoral success, the newly installed administration swiftly moved to fulfill that commitment.
What Arguments Are Being Raised Against the De-Twinning Policy?
The policy shift has provoked an immediate and furious backlash from community organizations and former civic leaders.
As reported by Josef Steen of the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), figures associated with the Hackney Anglo-Israel Friendship Association (HAIFA) alongside former Hackney speaker Linda Kelly lambasted the administration’s proposals, labeling them as “absolutely disgraceful”.
As reported by Josef Steen of the Hackney Citizen, HAIFA and Linda Kelly stated that:
“It’s a pity the new councillors don’t spend more time on education and SEND funding, policing, NHS and housing in the borough instead of trying to politicise something that isn’t, and has never been, political.”
Furthermore, local resident Asher Eisen characterized the de-twinning policy as
“a real kick in the teeth for the progressive forces in Israel”,
arguing that cutting international civic links harms rather than helps bridge-building efforts in the region.
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How Have Critics Connected the Decision to Inciting Antisemitism?
The controversy deepened significantly when local friendship leaders warned that the political gesture risks translating into real-world hostility toward British Jews. Martin Sugarman, the chair of HAIFA, issued a stern warning regarding the social consequences of the council’s actions.
As reported by Josef Steen of the Hackney Citizen, Martin Sugarman stated that:
“The de-twinning will create huge social dis-cohesion and be seen for what it really is: an incitement to hate Jews and Zionists and Israelis, an invitation to daub our streets with Jew hate slogans and posters, and incite violent individuals to attack Jews whenever they can.”
Critics argue that targeting an Israeli municipality for isolation plays into wider patterns of polarization across London, where local councils have increasingly become battlegrounds for geopolitical disputes.
What Do the Council’s Official Next Steps Involve?
Despite the fierce opposition, the administrative machinery within the council continues to move forward. According to council disclosures highlighted by the Hackney Citizen, the formal connection between Hackney and Haifa has largely remained dormant for years, limited primarily to historical hospital exchange programs between Homerton Hospital and Rambam Medical Centre that were paused during the Covid-19 pandemic and never resumed.
To formalize the termination, the full council is scheduled to vote on a motion during its upcoming meeting. As reported by Josef Steen of the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS), the local authority will be asked to approve plans to “engage with the municipality of Haifa and other interested parties,” carry out a comprehensive equalities impact assessment, and establish a cross-party working group chaired by a senior councillor.
Under the proposed framework, this cross-party group is anticipated to convene three times before returning its final recommendations to the full council for a binding vote. Additionally, the immediate motion requires Mayor Garbett to formally write to the Mayor of Haifa to solicit their perspective on the proposed termination of the six-decade partnership.
As the debate intensifies ahead of the upcoming council session, the outcome remains a focal point for national media observing how local UK authorities navigate polarizing international conflicts.
