Council 'fence-sitting' over Israeli twinning

BCP council voted to "take no view" of the twinning arrangement

A local authority was "fence-sitting" over a motion to de-twin a Dorset town from its Israeli counterpart, a councillor has said.

Green party councillors Joe and Kate Salmon brought the motion after more than 2,500 residents signed a petition calling for the 30-year relationship between Bournemouth and Netanya to end over Israel's actions in Gaza.

In a full Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) meeting on 22 July, members instead voted for an amendment to the motion which said it would "take no view" of the twinning arrangement.

Mr Salmon said the council "has a responsibility" to make a decision.

Bournemouth has been twinned with Netanya, a resort city in Israel, since 1995

He said the council meeting had been a "masterclass in fence-sitting by Liberal Democrat, Conservative and Labour councillors".

"We will keep pressing until they stop ignoring residents on this difficult but important debate," he added.

Andy Martin, cabinet member for customer, communications and culture at BCP said: "The twinning arrangement between Bournemouth and Netanya has been in place for more than 30 years and continues to reflect a commitment to civic friendship and cultural exchange."

The motion, which was first put forward last year, was delayed while the council sought legal advice on which constitution should make the decision.

It sought to suspend all support for the twinning arrangement, remove road signs and cease civic support until circumstances could be reviewed following the war in Gaza.

Bournemouth has been twinned with Netanya since 1995 but since the war in Gaza began, road signage of the twinning in Bournemouth has been taken down by unknown people on multiple occasions.

The Israeli military launched a campaign in Gaza in response to the Hamas-led attack on southern Israel on 7 October 2023, in which about 1,200 people were killed and 251 others were taken hostage.

At least 59,029 people have been killed in Gaza since then, according to the territory's health ministry.

Part of the sign on Ringwood Road, adjacent to Millhams Road, was removed last year.

In response to Mr and Mrs Salmons' motion, the amendment that members voted in favour of stated: "It is not the role of the council to support nor condemn matters occurring in the region."

Mr Martin said: "Following a full and respectful debate, BCP councillors have resolved to take no view on the appropriateness of the twinning arrangement and neither wish to promote twinning nor to criticise it."

The amendment also said while the council would not remove existing signage it would not fund replacing signage that had been removed.

Mr Salmon said it was an "open invitation for vandalism".

"Both supporters and opponents of the twinning wanted the council to show decisive leadership," he said, adding: "BCP council failed to deliver.

"The council has a responsibility to make a decision - do we publicly align ourselves with a municipality in a state currently facing credible genocide allegations or do we withdraw our civic endorsements."