Hackney Council apologises after setting Oct 7 deadline to end Haifa twinning

Hackney London Borough Council voted on 28 July to terminate its sister‑city partnership with Haifa, Israel, a link that began in 1968. The council initially set a ten‑week public‑consultation deadline of 7 October, the anniversary of the 2023 Hamas attacks, prompting accusations of insensitivity and political bias. Mayor Zoë Garbett and council leaders faced criticism from British‑Jewish groups and others, who argued the date was deliberately provocative.

The council later issued an apology, describing the original deadline as an administrative error, and moved the response date to 14 October. The partnership, largely limited to hospital exchanges, had been dormant during the pandemic. Hackney’s decision reflects its broader review of twinning links under a Green‑led administration seeking to align municipal relationships with its stated human‑rights values.