History made as Derby becomes 'sister city' of Hebron, Palestine
| Posted: April 17, 2014
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Derby Mayor Fareed Hussain pictured with Dr Professor Douad Zatari, Mayor of Hebron.
HISTORY has been made in Derby with the signing of a sister city agreement with the Palestinian city of Hebron – the first of its kind in the UK.
The Mayor of Derby, Councillor Fareed Hussain, has been behind the agreement and joined his opposite number from Hebron, Dr Professor Daoud Zatari, in a signing ceremony at the Council House.
It was watched by more than 30 people representing the cultural, educational and industrial aspects of Derby - which it is hoped will become involved in the ongoing relationship with the Middle Eastern city – the second oldest in the world after Jericho.
Hebron is slightly larger than Derby and is the subject of an international agreement, which means it is in part-Israeli and part-Palestinian control.
But the situation has continually provoked unrest among both settlers, while a settlement continues to be sought by governments across the world.
Mr Hussain said: “I visited Hebron last year and knew I had to drive forward an agreement between our two cities.
“Other UK places have shied away from doing it, afraid of criticism, but I am prepared to absorb the flak, because it is a relationship that will have mutual benefits.”
35 comments
Interesting comment. I think Nichola6 is a mis-leaading name for a man, but don't lose sleep over it. Do you have any original thoughts or comments?
So what? Your posts are nasty and vile. And you use a misleading user-name. Par for the course with you lot.
You know what Nichola6? I really don't care what you think.
I don't think that you're much of human, onegreen.
well HateGame, don't try to protect how i look please. Here's a deal for you: see if anyone can identify one (just one) example of what this 'link' between Derby and that dust bowl has done to improve anything in say, 6 months time? longer if you prefer (a year or two)? That should be simple enough, and less confrontational (although confrontation and the like is a way of life for some).
I'm just pointing out that your earlier post was entirely incorrect. I'd hate for you to look as stupid as your post suggests.
What a strange post from Hatethegame. If you think a link with Hebron is needed in Derby, and that such a link would be of more use and interest than virtually anywhere else, you are the one who needs schooling I'm sorry to say. This is a peculiar decision by a mayor who has gone beyond his remit. Pity we haven't got an Eskimo as a mayror really. Now that would be educational and non-political. Might even teach people something about civilisations who don't war.
If you think there is no political, economic or cultural connection between the UK and Palestine you need to go back to school. Perhaps you could start with St George, as is appropriate today.
GuySh, maybe you should look around you. I stand by my comments. There is no connection between Hebron and anywhere else in Europe, let alone Derby. I perhaps should have included 'that anyone is remotely interested in other than a handful of a handful of handful of ethnic minorities'. No doubt you regard that as some form of racism? I don't see many people agreeing with you on this forum by the way.
Onegreen, I didn't say you did want to learn more. But you have said things that are mistaken, e.g. "here is absolutley no logical, cultural, spiritual,. commercial, leisure, sporting, academic, historical, geographical or political connection between Hebron and anywhere else in Europe, let alone Derby" and "things like this are... no doubt as confusing to the people of Hebron as it is to the people of Derby." So I responded to you. Maybe you shouldn't post on forums if you don't like it when people debate and challenge what you say.