Council to explore twinning Newry with Palestinian city of Ramallah

An image taken in Jifna, a village outside Ramallah, in July 2022, when SDLP councillors Killian Feehan and Pete Byrne visited the region as part of a group of local activists to deliver university scholarships for local Palestinian students.

A proposal to explore twinning Newry with the Palestinian city of Ramallah has been backed by councillors.

The proposal was brought forward by SDLP Newry councillor Killian Feehan.

Council will now initiate the twinning process by writing to the Mayor of Ramallah Issa Kassis.

Councillor Feehan said: “The scenes coming from Palestine continue to horrify people on a daily basis.

"To date, over 30,000 men, women and children have been killed, while others live under constant bombardment, without enough food, running water or medicine. The SDLP has been resolute in its call for an immediate ceasefire, the release of all hostages and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

“The vast majority of us feel a profound sense of despair not knowing what can be done to meaningfully support the Palestinian people. That is why I brought this proposal forward: I believe that formally twinning Newry with the City of Ramallah, Palestine’s administrative capital, would make it clear to the people of Palestine that we stand in solidarity with them, that we recognise their suffering, and that we share their pain.

“Alongside peers from across our local area, I have spent considerable time in Palestine over the last 10 years, and during that time, it has been clear to all that a mutual respect exists between both cultures and that there are clear overlaps in both perspectives and experiences. I believe that by leading on the process of twinning the cities of Newry and Ramallah, we can publicly embrace the Palestinian people and stand shoulder to shoulder with them in front of the world.

“Twin-city relationships came to prominence during the Second World War, when the concept emerged as a way of establishing solidarity links between cities that endured similar hardships or devastating events. The simple rationale behind such twinning was that 'little help is better than big sympathy'. That sums up the motivation behind my proposal."