Frequently Asked Questions

 Where is Ramallah and why is it important to twin the two Cities?

Ramallah is an important city in Palestine.  Like most other cities, towns and villages in the occupied West Bank and Gaza, Ramallah is under occupation by Israel and its citizens have endured terrible suffering through extended periods of curfew and closure.  The occupation touches every part of their daily life, including access to education and health.  While a permanent and just solution is being sought for the Palestine Israel conflict, the people of Palestine need the support of the international community and the solidarity of people around the world.  Twinning the second city in the United Kingdom with a prominent city in Palestine would provide the people of Birmingham with a focus for their efforts to support the Palestinian people.

What is the aim of twinning the two cities?

The main aim of the twinning is to foster existing links between the citizens of Birmingham and the citizens of Ramallah and to develop new links both at organisation-to-organisation level and at city level through a formal ‘twinning arrangement’.  Birmingham residents have recently visited Ramallah to help its citizens who have recently been under almost constant military occupation and curfews. During these visits, requests were made by several organisations in Ramallah to deepen such links. Over the past year, the British Council has sponsored visits to Birmingham schools by teachers from schools in Ramallah.

What forms do you expect the twinning between organisations to take?

We hope to develop links between schools, colleges, hospitals, universities, workplaces, trade unions, voluntary organisations, cultural organisations, and sports organisations.  These links will enable citizens from the two cities to build ongoing and real relationships at a grass roots level

Who is behind this twinning initiative?

The idea of establishing formal links between the two cities has been discussed by citizens of the two cities over a number of years.  A twinning committee, ‘The Trades Council Executive Standing Advisory Committee’, is currently pursuing the initiative.  This consists of delegates from the Birmingham Trade Union Council and the West Midlands Palestine Solidarity Campaign and is open to Trade Union Branches, Campaigning Organisations, Community and religious organisations.

Who has supported the initiative so far?

Birmingham Trades Union Council and the West Midlands Palestine Solidarity Campaign have both been working o gain support for this initiative.  Many of BTUC’s affiliate unions support it including Birmingham UNISON (the biggest Trade Union Branch in Europe).  Lynne Jones MP, Richard Burden MP and 17 local Councillors from across the political spectrum. Prof Nielson & Prof Lucas, University of Birmingham, Prof Rajput Aston University, P. Khan, Chair South Asian Alliance, Avtar Jouhl, General Secretary Indian Workers Assoc, Dr M Naseem, Chairman Birmingham Central Mosque,  Jane Slowey, Chief Exec BVSC (Personal Capacity) Mukhtar Dar, The Drum Community Arts Producor, Heather Rutledge Director W.Mids Campaign for Learning, Dr Jane Moon, Deputy Director Centre for the Study of Global Ethics. Also hundreds of citizens from across the city have signed the open statement.

Is the twinning designed to be a political statement?

We anticipate that twinning will take a number of different forms and will be at different levels.  For example we see twinning between two schools as an opportunity for children to exchange experiences of what it is like to live in the two cities and to lessen the isolation felt by Palestian children. It is no more or less political than Birmingham’s twinning with other cities. 

Twinning at City level will require a formal motion to be put to the Council and for a vote to approve it.  However, we do not see the link as an endorsement of a particular political leadership in Palestine.  The fact that Ramallah is the Headquarters of the Palestinian National Authority has not influenced its choice as the city to twin with Birmingham.  It was its status as a prominent administrative, financial and cultural city in Palestine that was the most significant factor

Is Birmingham twinned with any other cities?

Yes, Birmingham is twinned with Johannesburg (South Africa),  Frankfurt (Germany), Milan (Italy), Lyon (France) and Chicago (USA).

Birmingham has a long and proud history of supporting people struggling for their freedom and human rights including, for example, the twinning with Johannesburg in South Africa. This reflects our city’s long tradition of enlightenment stretching back to its founding and growth as a city of migrant workers (from Britain and overseas) as well as the work of the Lunar Society in the Anti-slavery movement.

Are any other British cities twinned with cities in Palestine?

Yes, Glasgow is twinned with Bethlehem and Dundee is twinned with Nablus.  We are aware of initiatives to twin Bristol with Bethlehem and Oxford with Ramallah. 

What funds are needed to make the twinning successful?

We are not seeking substantial funds from the City Council’s budget for these twinning arrangements.  We would anticipate funding to be in line with that provided for the five other twinning arrangements that Birmingham has.  Funding will be required in accordance with normal practice for a visit by the Lord Mayor to Ramallah to establish the twinning arrangement and for a reciprocal visit by the Mayor of Ramallah to Birmingham.  Specific fund raising would be undertaken to support other activities.

If you have any further questions that we have not covered here or if you would like to assist in the work of the committee please do contact us.

email: info@birminghamramallah.org