Gold Coast City Council (GCCC) and its Netanya counterpart have enjoyed a fruitful 40-year official sister city relationship, culminating in a Surfers Paradise park being renamed Netanya Place in 2021. But these beneficial links could be at risk. A group of about 20 – some wearing keffiyehs and reportedly chanting “cut ties” – attended a GCCC meeting on June 18 to submit a petition by Free Palestine Australia that calls for the sister city agreement to be withdrawn and Netanya Place renamed.
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate rejected their call and described the demonstrators’ disruptive behaviour as “unwelcome”, but referred the petition for consideration by a council committee. Gold Coast resident Dimitri Zindilis then launched a Change.org counter petition on June 28 that received 1500 signatures in three days.
It stated, “The push to rename the park and cut ties between the Gold Coast and Netanya does not represent the wishes of this city ...
together we can demonstrate that we stand with Israel and our Jewish community.” Queensland Jewish Board of Deputies (QJBD) president Jason Steinberg told The AJN, “From a Jewish perspective, any suggestion that GCCC should sever its sister city relationship with Netanya, or rename Netanya Place, is abhorrent. “Netanya is a beautiful seaside resort city, just like the Gold Coast.
“The pro-Palestine protesters seem to think the louder and more abusive they are, the more they can force change. “I hope the council comm.
