By Cam Lucadou-Wells
A Casey councillor says he feels “conflicted” about a proposed Israeli sister-city friendship due to the treatment of Palestinians.
Cr Rex Flannery recently visited Israel to investigate a colleague’s proposal for Casey to forge ties with Ofakim Municipality.
Despite his misgivings, his personally-funded trip has led to a further invitation for Cr Flannery to meet with Israel embassy representatives in Melbourne in July.
During a cordial meeting with Ofakim’s chief executive, Cr Flannery received a gift of friendship. He concluded that Ofakim was keen to form a friendship with Casey.
But to him, sister-city relations were generally a “waste of time”.
“I don’t see the purpose. I don’t want to waste ratepayers’ money on something of no value.”
Ofakim is a desert city of about 25,000 about 20 kilometres east of the Gaza strip border, where “everybody who builds a house has to put in a bomb shelter”, Cr Flannery observed.
“They’re living under constant threat of a rocket attack.
“I can understand why they’re so scared and so apprehensive talking to people.”
Cr Flannery spoke of the controversial West Bank wall that separates Israeli and Palestinian settlements.
The barrier is justified by the Israeli Government to deter terrorism but is also condemned as a means of segregation.
“The Israelis don’t want the Palestinians there,” Cr Flannery said.
“I certainly couldn’t support anybody who doesn’t support multiculturalism.”
He was concerned by the restrictions on Palestinians, who were required to go back to their settlements after work and to carry ID at all times.
“In Australia, no-one challenges you on race and creed.”
He was however impressed by the arid region’s infrastructure and its agriculture, using a 90 per cent recycled water supply.
Casey councillor Rosalie Crestani, who proposed the sister-city ties, said Israeli officials seemed impressed by how Cr Flannery “went out of his way” to visit.
Cr Crestani said Israel was a successful model of unifying cultures, exemplified by the four Quarters of Jerusalem. But there were challenges.
“Israel has a right to exist and that should be the basis for negotiation (with Palestinians).
“I believe it’s a big Palestinian population in Israel. There’s challenges on both sides.”
Cr Crestani has argued for Israeli ties on the basis of sharing Western allies as well as Judeo-Christian and democratic values.
Ofakim is also near the site of the Battle of Beersheba, where Australian Light Horsemen helped secure a “huge miracle” victory in World War I in 1917.
There a bond was forged that was “priceless” and “beyond words”, Cr Crestani said.
Friendships were hard to come by for the Israelis, she said.
“They can be in a safe place here and we’ll go a long way to protect them.
“It lets them know they’ve got another remote location in the world if they need a safe haven.”
