Strasbourg votes in favor of twinning with the Palestinian camp of Aida, regardless of the criticisms | EUROtoday

Strasbourg adopted a twinning on Monday 23 June with the Palestinian refugee camp in Aida, within the West Bank, whereas on the similar time the Alsatian capital suspended its twinning with the Israeli City of Ramat Gan, to the chagrin of the opposition and native Jewish organizations.

At the tip of a tense debate, the municipal council adopted the precept of twinning with the camp close to Bethlehem by 49 votes towards 10 and 5 abstentions. The vote additionally included a partnership with the town of Bethlehem, below the aegis of the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in addition to the discharge of emergency humanitarian support in Gaza. These two proposals have been adopted unanimously.

“The realization of a twinning with the Aïda camp is a symbolic gesture which makes it possible to build bridges with the Palestinian people in the perspective of the creation of a State of Palestine alongside Israel”underlined the ecologist mayor of Strasbourg, Jeanne Barseghian.

She stated this twinning was “Destined for youth” : the elected consultant envisages cooperation within the inventive fields, tradition, sport and would additionally like “Work on women’s rights as well as digital”.

She recalled that hyperlinks have existed between Aïda and Strasbourg because the early 2000s, and once more in 2023 through the Musica Contemporary Music Festival, during which dancers and singers of the refugee camp participated.

“The city of Strasbourg is not there to take sides”

According to Jean-Philippe Vetter (Les Républicains), the choice was made too rapidly and “Porters the brand of improvisation”. Especially since on the similar time the Alsatian municipality suspended its twinning with the Israeli metropolis of Ramat Gan, within the suburbs of Tel Aviv. This one, which dates again greater than 30 years, is “Frozen”as a result of “Conditions are not met”stated in May Ms. Barseghian.

What the previous mayor and minister Catherine Trautmann (Socialist Party) didn’t fail accountable him: “While a twinning is based on the reciprocity of commitments, you have diverted yourself from one of the parties”she launched to the mayor.

“In no case do I want to break these strong links with Ramat Gan, nor this twinning. The goal is that this door can reopen when the conditions are met and when the weapons will be silent, I hope as soon as possible ”replied Ms. Barseghian.

“Strasbourg, European capital, can have two twinning that coexists. That of Ramat Gan and that of the Aïda camp, such as the two states which we want them to coexist peacefully and security in the future. In no case is the city of Strasbourg there to take sides. The city of Strasbourg, it is a symbol of peace, reconciliation ”she continued.

Manifestation and counter-manifestation

Before the beginning of the council, round fifty members of the Jewish group of Strasbourg had gathered on the name of the CRIF (Representative Council of Jewish Institutions in France) Alsace, the Israelite Consistory of Bas-Rhin and the Unified Jewish Social Fund (FSJU).

“It is a political message, which is a supporter. Madam Mayor addresses a part of the Strasbourg she desires to flatter for the subsequent elections. It’s fairly clear “regretted Thierry Roos, honorary vice-president of the consistory.

A few meters away, a handful of demonstrators had on the contrary chanted slogans of support for Palestine.

Last month, the CRIF expressed its “Building” Then criticized the Keffieh carried by Jeanne Barseghian during the visit to Strasbourg of a delegation from the Aïda camp as well as the gift received: a “Israel map lined with Palestinian flags all through the territory on which Israel has disappeared”.