Hackney’s Green Mayor: An “Unforgivable” Insult to Haifa

Hackney Green Party Mayor Zoë Garbett’s attempt to sever ties with the Israeli city of Haifa, initially setting the consultation deadline on the anniversary of the October 7th attacks, has been labelled “unforgivable” by former Green Party Deputy Leader Shahrar Ali. This move, reported by GB News, has sparked outrage and forced a belated apology.

A Deadline of Disgrace

The decision by Hackney’s Green-led council to end its nearly six-decade-long twinning agreement with Haifa has plunged local politics into a fresh row. The initial consultation period, set to conclude on October 7th, the third anniversary of Hamas’s brutal attacks on Israel, drew immediate and furious condemnation. This date choice was not merely an administrative error; it was a profound insult, whether intentional or born of staggering incompetence.

Former Green Party Deputy Leader Shahrar Ali did not mince words, telling GB News that the move was “unforgivable.” His sentiment echoes widespread disbelief and anger from Jewish community organisations and beyond. The timing transformed a bureaucratic process into a deeply provocative act, leaving many to question the motives behind the Hackney administration’s actions.

The Apology: Too Little, Too Late?

Under immense pressure, Mayor Zoë Garbett issued a belated apology, describing the original deadline as a “deeply regretful oversight” and a “serious mistake.” She extended the consultation period to October 14th. In her letter to Haifa Mayor Yona Yahav, Garbett stated, “I am aware that 7 October marks the anniversary of the horrific Hamas terrorist attacks, a day that carries profound grief and distress for many.”

“As Mayor, I take full responsibility for the correspondence issued under my name. Overlooking the significance of this date was insensitive and a serious mistake, and for this, I offer my sincere apologies.”

— Zoë Garbett, Mayor of Hackney

While an apology was eventually offered, the damage to trust and relations is significant. Many question how such a glaringly insensitive date could have been chosen, or overlooked, by an entire council administration. The incident has fuelled accusations of political posturing over genuine community engagement.

Undermining Decades of Connection

The twinning agreement, established in 1968, has fostered valuable cultural, civic, and even medical exchanges between Hackney and Haifa. Homerton Hospital, for instance, has had links with Rambam Medical Centre in Haifa. The Green-led council’s justification for ending this long-standing partnership is that it no longer reflects their “strategic priorities” or their commitment to “human rights” and “international law.”

• Hackney Council voted in principle to end the Haifa twinning agreement.
• The initial consultation deadline was set for October 7th.
• This date marks the anniversary of Hamas’s attacks on Israel.
• Former Green Party Deputy Leader Shahrar Ali called the move “unforgivable.”
• Mayor Garbett apologised, citing “deeply regretful oversight.”
• The deadline was subsequently extended to October 14th.
• The twinning agreement dates back to 1968, fostering various exchanges.

This episode exposes a troubling disconnect within the Green Party, where political ideology appears to trump sensitivity and historical relationships. The initial choice of the October 7th deadline, regardless of intent, was a grave misjudgement that has inflicted unnecessary pain and further polarised an already fraught debate. It demonstrates a profound lack of awareness, or perhaps a deliberate provocation, from a council that claims to champion human rights.

Source: GB News | Breaking Brexit News