France-Israel: Promoting ties via the Antony-Sderot twinning

In the midst of political unrest causing French and Israeli municipalities to drift apart, Antony and Sderot maintain a strong and lasting connection. Is this worthy of being duplicated ?

Antony’s avenues reflect the peaceful ties maintained with its twin city of Sderot, where decades of friendship are far more potent than today’s geopolitical storms. (Houda Belabd)

During this period of tension, numerous French cities are severing connections with Israeli counterparts. Nevertheless, Antony and Sderot demonstrate a strong and resilient friendship, overcoming political challenges and demonstrating the resilience of city-to-city partnerships in difficult situations.

Looking at global connections as a whole, where every interaction and friendship matters, the link between Sderot and Antony illustrates something remarkable. However, it is currently being challenged by the difficult events in the Israeli city since October 7th.

This friendship, built carefully over many years between the sun-soaked streets of the Negev and the leafy Paris suburb, means so much more today than just the usual city exchanges. In Antony’s peaceful gardens, where kids laugh and play under ancient trees, the sound of Sderot’s sirens touches the hearts of local families who’ve welcomed Israeli visitors into their homes over the years, shared family dinners, and built friendships that distance can’t break.

At the moment, both cities are proceeding carefully, with each word and action carrying significant weight. The city workers in every area act like dancers performing a delicate ballet, striving to keep their important relationships strong and acknowledging the diverse viewpoints in their neighborhoods.

In these difficult times, this collaboration appears as a sign of hope in the darkness, revealing many links between ordinary individuals who value communication, empathy and a shared sense of humanity above the distractions of current events and politics. These bonds, created in times of peace and strengthened in times of hardship, could form the most powerful basis for uniting people in the years to come. But despite the sirens still blaring in Sderot and the intense discussions going on in Antony’s town hall, the relationship between the two towns highlights the idea that local ties, while less important than global politics, can unite people in times of diplomatic challenge.