Aussie Bagel: Seems Marrickville council might be short a few wise men.

Saturday 16 June 2007

Seems Marrickville council might be short a few wise men.

Bethlehem visitors to find no room

A delegation of civic leaders from Bethlehem could be barred from entering Australia to formalise a sister city arrangement with Marrickville Council in Sydney's inner west.

Immigration Minister Kevin Andrews confirmed yesterday that Bethlehem Mayor Victor Batarseh and other delegates from the council - which is controlled by Hamas, a proscribed terrorist organisation - would have to undergo stringent tests before being granted visas.

"This can involve assessments by other relevant government agencies," he said.

And Alexander Downer attacked the Marrickville sister city plan, revealed in The Australian yesterday.

"I don't have a problem with Bethlehem, but in terms of the individuals there, Marrickville Council is very foolish to associate itself with people who support terrorist organisations," the Foreign Minister said. The council "should not in any way give encouragement to people who support terrorism".

Independent Marrickville councillor Dimitrios Thanos last night denounced the expansion of the sister city scheme to include Bethlehem as "really silly".

"It's become a travel rort," Mr Thanos said. "Every time the councillors want to travel overseas, they name a new sister city and they're off."

But Marrickville Mayor Morris Hanna, also an independent, insisted the arrangement was non-political and would not involve ratepayer funds.

The motion passed by the councillors on Tuesday stipulates that "council host a formal reception for the signing of a sister cities agreement, a tour of Marrickville, two dinners and present appropriate gifts as part of the delegation's visit".

The Marrickville move follows a decision by neighbouring Leichhardt Council in April to proceed with a friendship arrangement with Hebron. Both towns are on the West Bank and are under the control of the elected Palestinian Authority, which has a Hamas majority.

The Marrickville and Leichhardt plans have angered Jewish groups and were condemned yesterday by Waverley Mayor George Newhouse, who has been preselected by Labor to contest the eastern Sydney seat of Wentworth against Environment Minister Malcolm Turnbull.

"This is obviously an orchestrated campaign by activist groups in the inner west," Mr Newhouse said.

"It just makes a mockery out of local government. I don't think it's an appropriate use of ratepayers' money to be wining and dining elements that are associated with a proscribed terrorist group."

References:
The Australian: Bethlehem visitors to find no room
Picture Credit: Cath's Blog; Arabian Adventures
Picture Selection: Mr Bagel