Gold Coast to retain sister city relationship with Israel’s Netanya despite protest
The Gold Coast has been advised on whether it should maintain its sister city relationship with an Israeli city amid ongoing disruptive protests outside council chambers.
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The Gold Coast is being advised to maintain its relationship with an Israeli city despite ongoing disruptive protests outside council chambers.
City officers responding to petitioners calling on the Coast to withdraw its sister city relationship with Netanya recommended it should continue.
They say the arrangement was signed off in 1987 and since that time the mayors of both cities have engaged in friendly dialogue, facilitated civic and business meetings and endeavoured to progress community programs.
“The agreements held by hundreds of cities do not give rise to complicity nor do they represent an opportunity to influence matters of national interest,” officers said.
“It is acknowledged that the petitioners hold strong feelings about the City of Gold Coast’s relationship with Netanya, however the sister city agreement is a non-political, friendship based agreement which does not give rise to the notion of complicity.”
They added that the relationship was “not an instrument that can be used to influence events outside the city’s control”.
Councillors at a governance committee meeting on Tuesday were unanimous in supporting the recommendation made in a report.
Councillors declined the offer to debate the item when asked by committee chair Brooke Patterson, who read briefly from the officer report.
All councillors will vote at a full council meeting on August 20. Since the petition was noted on June 18 and referred to the committee, two protests had disrupted recent full council meetings as more than 20 protesters waved placards outside the Evandale Chambers at Bundall.
Extra security has been arranged at meetings.
The group was absent on Tuesday but expected to return for a full council vote.
Mayor Tom Tate indicated they were “welcome to come back with good behaviour”.
The Gold Coast Jewish community in July called on the city to reject a push by angry protesters demanding an end to a sister city relationship.
Their leaders wrote to Mr Tate and Ms Patterson expressing “deep concerns” about petitioners wanting the Coast to withdraw its historic links with Netanya in Israel’s northern central district.
Temple Shalom board member and spokesman Ben Naday said councillors had been thanked for continued support of the local Jewish community and reaching out with visits after the October 7 Hamas-led surprise attack on Israel.
“Sister city arrangements are about promoting friendship, cross-collaboration and the Gold Coast’s reputation as a global and welcoming city,” he said. “They shouldn’t be used as political footballs.”
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