Nablus and Dundee: 44 years of twinning
We are so proud that Dundee was the first in the world to twin with a city in Palestine. Fortuitous, fruitful and fantastic.
What is the Twinning between Dundee and the Palestinian city of Nablus?
The twinning between Dundee and Nablus is a formal agreement between the City of Dundee and the Municipality of Nablus.
The Lord Provost of Dundee and the Mayor of Nablus have the principal responsibility for this twinning. It was authorised and formalised by the City Council of Dundee and the Municipality of Nablus.
The Dundee-Nablus Twinning Association supports and develops this twinning relationship.
We encourage friendship between people in the two cities. We help those in Dundee to understand more about the people of Nablus and what life is like living under an illegal occupation.
A key element is to promote collaboration between people in each city on various projects. And we encourage visits in both directions.
History of the Twinning
The idea of making a twinning link between Dundee and Nablus arose in 1980 after the car of the then Mayor of Nablus, Bassam Shaka’a, was booby-trapped; he lost his legs and came to the UK to be fitted with new limbs.
There had been trade union links between Dundee and Palestine for a while, so Dundee Councillor Colin Rennie, Ernie Ross MP and George Galloway met up with Bassam Shaka’a in London.
On 27th November 1980 the decision to twin with Nablus was passed by Dundee District Council – a courageous act in the face of considerable opposition.
Two weeks later Mayor Shaka’a came to Dundee, where Lord Provost Jim Gowans, Ernie Ross MP, and a group of students welcomed him. He brought gifts, including the shield on display in Dundee City Chambers.
By December the Palestinian flag was flying in Dundee alongside those of its other twin cities.
October 1996
Over the years several visits have taken place between the two cities, though this has become increasingly difficult.
Nevertheless, in October 1996 an official Twinning document was signed in Dundee by Lord Provost Mervyn Rolfe and Mayor Ghassan Shaka’a. It said:
“By the re-affirmation of the arrangement, the two cities of Dundee and Nablus pledge that together they will actively co-operate to ensure the continuing development of close relationships between their citizens.”
Lord Provost of Dundee and Mayor of Nablus 1996
The Dundee-Nablus Twinning Association
The Dundee-Nablus Twinning Association (DNTA) was formed in 1993 when Lord Provost Tom McDonald established an association for each of Dundee’s twin cities.
DNTA helps to spread news about the twinning throughout Dundee and beyond.
We encourage membership, organise activities, publish a newsletter and arrange visits to and from Nablus.
Anyone who shares our interests in promoting friendship and understanding between the people of Dundee and Nablus is welcome to join us.
Or please contact us here
