Slash Sister city ties between Mobile, Alabama, and Ari'el, Israel!

A sister-city relationship has existed between Mobile, Alabama, and Ari'el, Israel for over 7 years. 

However, as engaged citizens, we believe that Israel’s intensification of violence and apartheid over the years in the occupied West Bank, as well as the genocide on Gaza, has disrupted our city’s global commitments to upholding peace, harmony, and humanity. 

Ari'el, a central city in the West Bank, is one of dozens of Israeli settlements built illegally under international law, violating the Fourth Geneva Convention. The United Nations’ top court, the International Court of Justice, along with the United Nations General Assembly, have ruled that these settlements are violations of international law. They have earmarked these Israeli settlements as an obstacle to a peaceful resolution to decades of violence in one of the most volatile regions in the world. 

In fact, according to the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights, $13.3 million in tax dollars from Mobile residents have gone to Israel’s weapons in 2024—money that could instead fund one of the following:

• 28,000 families with one month of groceries
• 145 teachers’ salaries for one year
• 38,000 households with solar electricity for a year
• 8,375 households with one month’s rent
• 4,648 children with healthcare for a year
• 353 students with canceled student loan debt

The connection does not stop there. According to official state data, Alabama has exported nearly $1.4 billion worth of goods to Israel since 1996, including $54 million in 2024 alone. At least $135 million of those goods were sold directly to the Israeli military. Given that ZIM, Israel’s primary shipping company, handles much of this cargo, goods leaving Alabama ports may still end up supporting Israel’s military operations even when not officially listed as exports.

Beyond trade numbers, Alabama’s industrial network is also tied to companies that directly or indirectly supply Israel’s military. Facilities like Lockheed Martin in Troy, Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, and Austal USA in Mobile produce or transport materials linked to Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza. While not all exports are publicly traceable, experts note that ZIM’s shipping operations can still fuel Israel’s military actions even when unlisted.

Furthermore, the UN Human Rights Council recently affirmed that Israel has been committing an intentional, systematic genocide against Palestinians in the Gaza Strip since 2023.

In our opinion, sister city relationships are only legitimate when they reflect a shared commitment between communities to uphold human rights and dignity for all, regardless of color, creed, race or religion. By maintaining this tie, Mobile risks aligning itself with apartheid, displacement, and genocide, rather than standing for peace, justice, and human dignity.

Therefore, we are calling on the Mobile, Alabama officials to cut ties with Ari'el!  

We can no longer stand by and endorse Israel’s settlement politics, nor any other barrier to sustainable peace and justice in the region.

Please sign our petition, reach out to your city council representatives, and let your voice be heard!