Oxford welcomed the Mayor of Ramallah and the Palestinian Ambassador this week as part of its twinning partnership, with visits to the Town Hall and Rose Hill Community Centre.
The Mayor of Ramallah visited Oxford on Tuesday 9 December, along with the Ambassador Husam Zumlot, who is from Ramallah, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the longstanding friendship between the two twinned cities.
During the visit, Mayor Issa Kassis met the Oxford Ramallah Friendship Association (OFRA) for a committee discussion. OFRA has supported and coordinated links between the two cities for many years.
Mayor Kassis also met Oxford’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Louise Upton, along with Oxford City Council’s Leader, Councillor Susan Brown at the Town Hall.
The visit concluded with a reception at Rose Hill Community Centre, where Mayor Kassis met representatives of faith groups, local communities and councillors.
City twinning
Oxford and Ramallah have been formally twinned since 2019, following a 17-year friendship fostered by the Oxford Ramallah Friendship Association. The two cities share similarities in population size, educational and healthcare institutions, civil society groups, and cultural and commercial activities. Both are also home to historic markets.
Oxford Ramallah Twinning, part of the Oxford Ramallah Friendship Association, coordinate a wide range of activities and events under the Twinning Agreement signed in 2019. These include youth exchanges, dance and theatre performances, educational visits, and collaborations in trade union and environmental sectors.
Ramallah is one of seven cities with which Oxford is twinned. The others are Bonn (Germany), Leiden (Netherlands), León (Nicaragua), Grenoble (France), Wrocław (Poland) and Padua (Italy). Town twinning began after the Second World War as a way of rebuilding relationships between European communities.
Oxford City Council has passed a number of motions in support of the Palestinian cause, including calling for an immediate and permanent ceasefire in Gaza in November 2023. It also called for the council to stop investing in and trading with companies which are implicated in state violence and oppression, war and occupation, as well as grave violations of human rights.
To mark the Mayor’s visit, Oxford City Council will fly the Palestinian flag from the Town Hall on Wednesday 10 December. The Ramallah Municipality Flag was also displayed at Rose Hill Community Centre.
“It was a pleasure to welcome the Mayor of Ramallah to Oxford. Our two cities share a long history of friendship, formalised when we became twin cities in 2019. This visit was an important opportunity to reaffirm our connection and explore new ways to work together at a challenging time in Palestine’s history.
Oxford is a proudly international, welcoming and diverse city, and our friendship with Ramallah reflects our commitment to international cooperation and community partnership. Meeting in person really creates a bond between people and this visit helps to foster closer connections between our communities. It was inspiring to speak to the Mayor and discuss how we can strengthen the links between our cities.”
Cllr Louise Upton, Lord Mayor of Oxford
“We are truly grateful for the historic friendship and partnership between Ramallah and Oxford, grounded in mutual respect and solidarity. It was an honor to visit Oxford and strengthen the ties between our cities and explore how we may continue working together in the spirit of solidarity and shared values.”
Issa Kassis, Mayor of Ramallah, Palestine
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