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Berlin and Tel Aviv: Historical Cities Partnership sealed!
Berlin enters a city partnership with Tel Aviv, which will be officially signed on May 5, 2025.
Berlin and Tel Aviv: Historical Cities Partnership sealed!
Berlin becomes a new partner city: Tel Aviv, Israel. The announcement was made by Berlin's ruling Mayor Kai Wegner (CDU) last Thursday. In his speech, Wegner emphasized the efforts of his predecessors to establish a partnership with an Israeli city. This town twinning is the result of intensive discussions with Tel Aviv's Mayor Ron Huldai and representatives of the city.
The official signing of the partnership is scheduled to take place on May 5, 2025 in Berlin during a visit to Huldai. Tel Aviv becomes the 19th partner city of Berlin, with which the capital further deepens its international relationships.
political support and background
Wegner emphasized that the responsibility of Berlin towards Israel and the protection of Jewish life are of central importance. Both CDU and the SPD have sought a partnership in the current coalition agreement, and all political groups in the Berlin House of Representatives support the project. This clarifies that political unity exists across partisan borders.
The Hamas terrorist attack had already influenced the preparations for the city twinning on October 7, 2023. During a visit to Tel Aviv in early 2024, Wegner met relatives of hostages who had been kidnapped by Hamas. This emotional experience has underlined the urgency and relevance of the partnership.
social connections
The city partnership between Berlin and Tel Aviv could create a new basis for the exchange in social, cultural and economic areas. An application from the CDU and SPD emphasizes that both cities are already closely connected in many areas.
However, some politicians expressed concerns about implementation. Jian Omar of the Greens warned of a mere collection of city twinning and demanded that concrete deeds have to follow. At the same time, AfD MP Martin Trezzer criticized the Senate for a lack of progress in the partnership already announced in the coalition agreement.
The MP Carsten Schatz von der Left recalled that the city twinning was announced in 2023, but found out delays from the events in the past year. The political will for implementation is nevertheless very pronounced, which represents a positive development for relationships between the two cities.
Currently belong to Berlin's partner cities, among others, Brussels, Buenos Aires, London and Tokyo. While the partnership with Moscow is currently resting, the exchange with Tel Aviv is considered particularly significant.
The official signing on May 5 could be a new milestone in relationships between Germany and Israel, which will influence both citizens and the politics of both cities in the coming years. For further information on the announcement of the city partnership, please visit Tagesspiegel and Jewish General.