Palestinian City chosen for City of Friendship

Preston City Council Members have chosen the city of Hebron in Palestine to explore the possibilities of an informal friendship agreement between the two cities. 

The city council announced last year that it was keen to strike up a friendship with a town or city in the Palestinian territories that had a shared interest with Preston.

The alliance would form a friendship to promote lasting peace, understanding and solidarity across the miles.  

Hebron is considered one of the oldest cities in the Middle East, located in the southern part of the Occupied West Bank, 30 kilometres (19 miles) south of Jerusalem.

It has a population of more than 201,000 and is believed to have lots of commonalities with Preston including a multi-cultural and diverse population.  

Hebron is a chief commercial and industrial centre in the region with its main trade in limestone from nearby quarries and with a local reputation for grapes, figs, ceramics, plastics and pottery.  

The City of Derby signed an agreement as a Sister City Relationship between themselves and the City of Hebron (Al Khalil), Palestine in January 2014, in recognition of their friendly ties.

Councillor Nweeda Khan, Cabinet Member for Communities and Social Justice at Preston City Council said:

We are working with Derby City Council, which is formally twinned with Hebron to learning from them and their positive experience of a successful friendship agreement with this progressive Middle Eastern city. We are looking forward to progressing our friendship plans and are supported by the Friendship of Palestine organisation. 

Mukhtar Master, Muslim Representative on the Preston Faith Covenant said:

Hebron, also known as Al-Khalil, would be an excellent choice by Preston City Council.  

The mosques of Preston made the formal approach to the council to establish a twinning or friendship arrangement with a Palestinian city. Hebron (Al-Khalil) is the resting place of the Prophet Abraham, hence it has immense significance, not only for Islam, but also for Christianity and Judaism.

Councillor Matthew Brown, Leader of Preston City Council said;

This is a friendship arrangement that could have mutual benefits for both cities, promoting peace and understanding throughout both ours and Hebron's multi-cultural communities. I welcome the friendship between the two cities, as a symbol of solidarity between all faiths and communities, one that will foster communication, inclusion and tolerance.

Preston City Council would consider friendship alliances with other towns and cities around the world on request from Preston-based communities, including Jewish Faith Covenant representatives and a similar friendship organisation to form a future friendship arrangement with a town or city in Israel.  

Additional Information

Preston City Council actively applies and prioritises the principles of Community Wealth Building wherever applicable and appropriate. Community Wealth Building is an approach which aims to ensure the economic system builds wealth and prosperity for everyone. 

Image source - from the Welcome to Palestine website.