TWINNING WITH HEBRON
The HebronExeter Twinning Association
The Hebron and Exeter twinning group was formally launched at the Exeter Palestine Solidarity Campaign, “Palestine Day” held at ExeterUniversity on Saturday 19th November 2005. This group joins with over 30 other groups around the country who are attempting to twin with cities and towns in Palestine.
All of the other groups in the UK involved with the initiative are starting off the process with a friendship link between organisations from their locality and similar institutions / groups in their chosen place in Palestine.
Hebron
Hebron lies in the south of the West Bank and with a city population of 150,000 is the largest city in the West Bank after annexed East Jerusalem. The district of Hebron has over 400,000 inhabitants. It is seen as a particularly troubled city as there are not only Israeli settlements on the outskirts of the city but also directly in the centre of it. Because of the settlers in the centre of the city (around 500), there is also a huge army presence (around 4000 soldiers), and the centre of Hebron has been divided into 2 zones. Sector H1 (80% of the city) is under Palestinian rule, H2 is under Israeli control, this area contains part of the old city including Abraham’s mosque / the tomb of the Patriarchs.
Hebron is seen as a very important city for those following the Jewish, Muslim and Christian religions. Abraham was the first prophet of all 3 faiths and is said to have lived and died in Hebron. Believers state that Hebron was the first human settlement, as Adam and Eve fled there after being driven out of the Garden Of Eden, their tombs lie alongside Abraham’s in Al-Haram al-Ibrahimi (Abraham’s Mosque).
Our Aims
We want to develop friendship links between many similar institutions and organisations in Exeter and Hebron. For example between two hospitals, two schools or two youth groups. We think these links might involve sharing experiences and knowledge through letters, emails, photos, web cam link ups, and possibly visits.
We believe that if friendship links can be made between similar workplaces and organisations in Exeter and Hebron both can learn a lot from each other.
We believe it is also an effective way of getting the issue of Palestine and what is happening to the Palestinians to lots of people in Exeter, some of whom may not be aware of the situation there. Putting names to faces and building relationships between people here and in Hebron will help to break down any preconceived ideas on both sides and will reduce the feelings of isolation for the Palestinians. This support is critical now as the EU and America has stopped aid to the newly elected Hamas Government. This will financially and economically starve the Palestinians, as many workers will not be paid. At the moment Palestinians live on an average of just over $4 a day (a third of that is foreign aid).
Our aims are to help make the links start between the Exeter and Hebron organisations. If friendship links are successful it may be possible to try and make formal twinning between the municipalities of Exeter and Hebron.
For more information contact
Karenza 07986 439 055or
Lizi on 07738563398 or