Bethlehem agrees to Newbridge twinning

Newbridge looks set to twin with Occupied Town of Bethlehem.

Kildare County Council has taken a giant step towards an historic twinning with Bethlehem after it was announced that the Middle Eastern town has accepted the offer to link up.

Bethlehem is under the jurisdiction of the Palestinian National Authority and moves to twin were initiated in 2003 by the Newbridge branch of the Ireland-Palestine Solidarity Campaign (IPSC).

The venture faces one final hurdle as it must be approved by Newbridge Town Council, who were to be officially informed of the news at last night's (Tuesday) Town Council meeting.

Town Mayor Cllr. Seamie Finn (Labour) said yesterday that he would back the idea in principle and that, while the Town Council would be influenced by the Newbridge Twinning Committee, the final decision would rest with the Council.

The idea was first floated at a Newbrige IPSC meeting in late 2003, and representatives from the branch met with Newbridge Town Council to explain the idea.

In March 2004, the Town Council extended a formal invitation to the Municipal Authority in Bethlehem and the Kildare Nationalist learned on Monday that Bethlehem has officially accepted this.

IPSC branch secretary Elaine Daly said a twinning arrangement between the towns would have several benefits, and that support among Newbridge people for the idea was considerable.

"It is our understanding that this is the first twinning arrangement between an Irish town and a town in the Occupied Territories," she said. "The local Catholic and Church of Ireland communities, retired army personnel and two local primary schools have reacted most positively," she continued.

Meanwhile well-known local people musicians Donal Lunny and Barry Moore (Luka Bloom), religious leaders Rev. John Marsden and Fr. Joe McDermott, and local TDs Sean O'Fearghail (Fianna Fail) and Jack Wall (Labour) have all agreed to become patrons of the campaign.

Ms. Daly said that if the twinning is sanctioned activities might include Arabic language classes, pen-pal campaigns among local school children, video link-ups, and cultural evenings and events, as well as possible visits.

"We intend calling a public meeting in the near future to set up a committee of people interested in making this a success," she said.