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Bournemouth Green councillors attempt to ‘de-twin’ seaside town with Netanya
Councillors say twinning with Israeli city is ‘detrimental to the reputation of Bournemouth’
July 15, 2024 12:37
Councillors say twinning with Israeli city is ‘detrimental to the reputation of Bournemouth’
July 15, 2024 12:37This week, Bournemouth Council will hear a motion to “de-twin” the Dorset town from Natanya in a move that allegedly seeks to protect the “reputation” of the southern English seaside resort.
Bournemouth's Green Party councillors Joe Salmon and Kate Salmon tabled the resolution to de-twin from the city in west-central Israel, which has been twinned with Bournemouth since 1995.
The motion will be discussed during a meeting of the Bournemouth Charter Trustees, and states: "In recognition of the current Israel-Hamas conflict and Israel's potential violations of international law, and the subsequent detrimental impact on the reputation of the town of Bournemouth and its Mayoralty, I call on the Charter Trustees of Bournemouth to withdraw its support for Bournemouth's twinning with Netanya, Israel”.
The motion demands that the Bournemouth Charter Trust “remove any signage and other signifiers to that effect and request that the Bournemouth Twinning Association de-twin the towns."
Cllr Joe Salmon told the Bournemouth Daily Echo that the idea of twinning is “rooted in fostering mutual respect, cultural exchange and the promotion of peace and understanding… When the actions and policies of a sister town’s nation contradict these values, it becomes imperative to reconsider and potentially sever such ties.”
The motion comes a few months after signs recognising the twinning with Netanya were allegedly stolen.
In April, the metal signs acknowledging the twinning with the Mediterranean city disappeared from the main “Welcome to Bournemouth” signage. Signs marking the town’s twinning with Lucerne in Switzerland were left untouched.
Former mayor of Bournemouth, Anne Filer, who is Jewish, was left “very upset and disappointed” after the incident, and Dorset Police launched an investigation into the alleged vandalism.
Although the signs have since been replaced, the council motion threatens to have them removed.
Bournemouth Action For Israel will stage a counter-protest at the town hall, where pro-Israel activists will show their support for the twinning arrangement.
Issuing a statement, they said: “We need to show the Councillors and the people of Bournemouth that we proudly stand with Israel and Netanya and demand that this resolution stops here.
“This is our opportunity to show solidarity with Israel and Netanya and to demonstrate the strength of the local Israel-supporting silent majority.”
The Green Party has been contacted for comment.