A New Union: Berlin and Tel Aviv, United by Friendship & Partnership
Berlin and Tel Aviv establish urban alliance - Cities of Berlin and Tel Aviv forge city-to-city collaboration agreement
Get ready, folks! Berlin and the vibrant Israeli city of Tel Aviv are set to become official twinned cities. In a heartwarming ceremony at the Red City Hall, Mayors Kai Wegner (CDU) and Ron Huldai put ink to paper, marking a significant milestone in their long-standing friendship.
Wegner shared that this newfound partnership aims to boost exchange in areas like economy, culture, you name it! A key focus will be fostering connections between young people, as friendships blossom where hatred and incitement refuse to take root.
Wegner's View: A Special Bond with Israel
Tel Aviv, a young, diverse, and exhilarating metropolis - much like Berlin - resonates with Wegner. This twinning, he says, is a perfect fit, and he emphasized our unique responsibility as Germans to support Jewish life and unwaveringly protect Israel's right to exist.
Israeli Gratitude: Solidarity & Anti-semitism
Huldai lauded Wegner's solidarity after the horrific Hamas terrorist attack on Israel in October 2023, in which over 1,200 lives were tragically lost, and more than 250 were taken hostage. Huldai also applauded Wegner's stance against anti-semitism, ending his speech by urging the swift release of the remaining hostages still in Hamas's custody.
New Footprint: Tel Aviv Joins Berlin's Network
With Tel Aviv now part of Berlin's growing family of twin cities, the partnership count now stands at 19. The agreement comes at a time when the Middle East conflict persists, and ongoing Gaza war has taken its toll.
Political Perspective: Criticisms for Forging Ahead
The Palestinian Authority representative in Germany, Laith Arafeh, expressed concern about the new twinning agreement, stating that the Berlin Senate was signing it during a time when Israel is allegedly committing genocidal crimes. Arafeh criticized the Berlin Senate for perceived insensitivity to Berliners of Palestinian origin, whose family members have been impacted by the current conflict.
Berlin's Twinning Arrangements: A Global Reach
Berlin's extensive network of twin cities includes stellar metropolises such as Brussels, Buenos Aires, Istanbul, Kyiv, London, Los Angeles, and Beijing. Berlin's partnership with Moscow currently remains suspended due to the Russian war of aggression in Ukraine.
So there you have it, folks! A dazzling new partnership between Berlin and Tel Aviv, symbolizing hope and shared democratic values amidst turbulent global politics. May this friendship blossom and inspire continued collaboration between our two great cities. 🤝🌍
- The employment policy, as part of the community policy, will encourage and facilitate exchange programs between Berlin and Tel Aviv, focusing on young people to build friendships and strengthen the new twinning partnership.
- The CDU, in support of the new partnership, believes that it is a German responsibility to foster Jewish life and preserve Israel's right to exist as a peaceful neighbor during ongoing political conflicts.
- Critics of the new twinning agreement, such as Laith Arafeh, have expressed concerns about perceived insensitivity towards Berliners of Palestinian origin whose family members have been impacted by the current Middle East conflict.
- The Palestinian Authority representative in Germany alleges that the Berlin Senate is ignoring the genocidal crimes being committed by Israel while forging ahead with the twinning agreement, creating a divide among the city's diverse community.
