THE DIAMOND EXCHANGE Center area in Ramat Gan, Israel (Wikipedia).
A proposal to enter into a “Sister City” relationship with the Israeli city of Ramat Gan, will be considered by the Huntington Beach City Council when it meets on Tuesday.
The item was submitted by Mayor Gracey Van Der Mark and Councilmmber Tony Strickland.
Ramat Gan (Garden Height) is a city of about 172,000 people in the Tel Aviv District of Israel. It was established as a communal farming settlement in 1921.
Today is it best-known for the Diamond Exchange Center, featuring many skyscrapers and high-tech businesses. It’s also the home of the embassies of Ghana, Kenya, Ivory Coast, Jordan, Eritrea, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands and the European Economic Community.
Huntington Beach has had Sister City relationship with Anjo, Japan since 1982.
Also on Tuesday, the council will take up the adoption of the “Parents Right to Know City” municipal code amendment approved for introduction on a 4-3 vote on Sept. 3.
Additionally, the council will consider a lease agreement with Area Investment Group LCC for a new police substation lease at 7711 Center Avenue in the Bella Terra shopping center.
The council will meet in its chambers at 2000 Main St. with a closed session at 4:30 p.m. and a regular session at 6 p.m.
Categories: Huntington Beach
In a fraugt time of Israel’s oppression, atrocities and outright war crimes being committed by the IOF (Israeli Occupation Forces) against the defenseless innocent Palestinian civilians in Gaza and the West Bank, this is definitely NOT the proper time for sister city ideas without the outright condemnation of the blatant immoral apartheid and illegal detention of thousands of innocent Palestinians.
If we have a written letter of condemnation by this Israeli city’s leadership of the unlawful actions of it’s nation’s radical right government, then that would show some moral leadership and character that HB would surely welcome.
I live in Huntington Beach. Unfortunately, I had no idea before moving here, what an antisemitic city Huntington Beach actually is. This was way before the current war, that started on 10/7/2023.
Some group is leaving racist/hateful flyers on people’s homes, blaming Jews solely for the LGBTQ community. Not only is that statement 100% untrue, it’s racist, antisemitic, & hateful, as well as it being discrimination.
The HBPD’s response to this? They call it freedom of speech! How ignorant can they be?!
So, how can Huntington Beach have a Sister City in Israel, with this kind of thinking, as well as how can any Jews feel welcome even living here in Huntington Beach, with this type of thinking? Obviously not all people living in Huntington Beach, Jewish or not feel this way, but the Antisemitism in this city has been going on for quite some time, apparently without anyone trying to stop it.
I used to think that California was a progressive state. Apparently not in every city in California!
As a long time resident of Huntington Beach, I commend those on the City Council supporting this Sister City relationship. Israel is the most dynamic country in the middle east, a driver of technology and medical innovation and despite the constant hate surrounding it, including now here in the U.S. with the legions of the misguided, I applaud the moral leadership and wish the relationship nothing but success.
How sad for a community 10,000 miles away to show solidarity with a country found guilty of carrying out a Genocide! How sad HB!