Brent Council has defended its decision to twin with the Palestinian city of Nablus, arguing the civic twinning was ‘strictly non-political.’
A petition last year argued the choice of the city, which is located in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, appears ‘sectarian in its nature’ and would undermine community relations in the London borough.
It also claimed that Nablus is the home of militant groups and that Jewish, Christian and LGBTQ communities were ‘unlikely to be made welcome.’
Defending the agreement, which was formalised in January, a Brent Council spokesperson said: ‘We are acutely aware that this is a sensitive issue in the current global context. That is why the council has been clear from the outset that any civic twinning must be strictly non-political.’
