Joint Friendship Agreement between Derry and Strabane and Bethlehem drawing nearer

Members of Derry City and Strabane District Council’s Governance and Strategic Planning committee have given Council officers the go ahead to work with officers from the City of Bethlehem to prepare a joint friendship agreement.

A Friendship Agreement is a ‘stepping stone’ to a more formal twinning or ‘sister city agreement which deepens and strengthens links.

The initiative resulted from a motion brought to Council in January 2024 by Cllr Catherine McDaid (SDLP).

At that time, Council noted “with grave concern the ongoing loss of life in the tragic war in Palestine”.

It also noted “the ongoing genocide in Gaza is completely abhorrent and that the impact of the Israeli occupation is being felt right across the region, including in the West Bank”.

Council committed “to contacting the local authorities within Bethlehem and to start the process of twinning Derry and Strabane with Bethlehem city, to show our support to the people of the region and to develop our relationship with Bethlehem in order to develop links”.

Speaking at Tuesday afternoon’s meeting, Cllr McDaid thanked officers for the work that had gone into the project so far.

“I appreciate it has obviously been really difficult to even get a conversation going given there is a genocide in the region but I appreciate everything that has been done to reach out and do what we can.

“It has been mentioned how important and how beneficial it would be for both our district and Bethlehem if we can create those links for education and culture and tourism and everything else that would come with it.

“I am really looking forward to further updates to see how this will move forward,” said Cllr McDaid.

Cllr Shaun Harkin (People Before Profit) said the proposed friendship agreement was a key way for Council to express its solidarity [with Palestine] “given the threat by the US Government to support Israel’s plan to annex all of the West Bank and take it over and ethnically cleanse all of the West Bank”.

“It is a way for us to attempt to block what Israel and the US are trying to do. Bethlehem right now is surrounded by 40 illegal settlements that have been built during the so-called peace agreement years, when there was supposed to be a two state solution.

“That is the danger for Palestinians in Bethlehem right now. There is an attempt to erase them out of existence,” said Cllr Harkin.

Alderman Derek Husssey (UUP) expressed concern about the absence of “one interest that stretches right across our community - the place of Bethlehem in Christian religious teaching.”

The signing of a twinning agreement between the two Councils was approved at a meeting of Bethlehem City Council on April 6, 2024.

Due to the ongoing situation the initial call between the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane District Council and the Mayor of Bethlehem had to be rescheduled a number of times; it subsequently took place on Tuesday, February 11.

According to the report presented to councillors, the call was “an opportunity to discuss common values and shared goals from a friendship/twinning agreement as well as communicate the city’s solidarity and support for the people of Bethlehem and Palestine”.

At present, Bethlehem has agreements in place with over 100 cities however not all of these are active or not all have been continuous due to changing political circumstances in the cities.

It has been agreed to develop areas of co-operation and friendship between the people of Derry City and Strabane and Bethlehem to strengthen the links between the two cities.

The mayoral meeting was “hugely positive and provided the opportunity for an engaging and informative exchange”.

Nell McCafferty mural unveiled in Derry's Bogside

'A woman of extraordinary courage, intellect, and humanity' - Uachtarán na hÉireann Michael D Higgins

Mayor Seenoi-Barr was able to “directly communicate the continued support and solidarity the people of Derry City and Strabane has towards the people of Bethlehem and Gaza”.

The Mayors have agreed that Officers from Derry City and Strabane and the City of Bethlehem will continue communications developing the ‘people to people’ relationships so that we understand more about each other’s cities and identify the
areas of interest and mutual cooperation for the Agreement.

Potential areas of common interest where there are opportunities to foster dialogue, exchange good practice and knowledge are: culture, arts and the creative industries of both cities have been designated capital of cultures - Bethlehem was designated ‘Capital of Arab Culture for 2020-21.

The next steps are for Council officers to facilitate the exact terms of reference of the Friendship Agreement with their counterparts. The agreement would become effective once formally approved and signed by both cities.

Both Mayors expressed their hope to meet again in the near future to discuss the agreement and the Mayor of Bethlehem hopes to have the Mayor of Derry City and Strabane travel to the City of Bethlehem in the near future.