Hackney stands with Palestine 

Break the link with Haifa

Since September 1968 the London Borough of Hackney has had a formal twinning relationship with Israel’s third largest city, Haifa. The London Borough of Hackney states that this is a “non-political, non-sectarian and multi-faith” relationship aiming to foster cultural exchange between the two. In light of Israel’s ongoing genocide in Palestine and the ongoing brutal occupation of the West Bank and Gaza, this relationship supports an apartheid and genocidal regime. Hackney PSC, supported by Hackney Stop the War, believe that this relationship violates Hackney Council’s publicly declared progressive values, given that: 

Haifa saw the mass expulsion and dispersal of 95% of its existing Palestinian population between 1947 and ‘49.
Israel is conducting a brutal genocide in Gaza, claiming over 30,000 Palestinian lives since the October 7th, (70% of those women and children), leaving many more wounded with inadequate medical provision, in addition to widespread starvation.
Israeli and international human rights organisations confirm that Israel operates an apartheid regime in its treatment of all sections of Palestinian society in both the West Bank and in its territories including arbitrary detention of thousands of Palestinians including children.
Palestinian citizens of Israel face systematic discrimination based on an apartheid regime which denies equal access to land, housing, funding for education and other resources. 
The accelerating development of illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank which is further ethnically cleansing more lands of its indigenous population, in a clear breach of international law.

We, the undersigned, therefore call on Hackney Council to immediately end its twinning with Haifa, and end its complicity with Israel's ongoing crimes. 

Please note, In order to get this issue debated at the Council meeting, we will need at least 750 signatures that could be verified by the Council as having a link with Hackney, i.e either living, working or studying in Hackney. Please provide full name and address of home, work or educational institution if you are from Hackney.