CALLS for Bournemouth’s historic twinning links with Israel to be severed in the wake of the Gaza aid flotilla raid have failed to win favour with civic leaders.

In a letter to the Daily Echo, Tony Williams from Warnford Road, Bournemouth, said “the latest atrocity” illustrated Israel’s “contempt not only for the rule of the law but for the opinions of civilised nations throughout the world.”

He added: “Next year in Bournemouth we shall be electing councillors and it is essential that all candidates standing for election state their position on the Palestine/Israel conflict.”

Mr Williams branded Bournemouth’s twinning link with the coastal city of Netanya as “ludicrous.”

New Mayor Cllr Barry Goldbart said: “I can understand why people have these views but we have to look at the much wider picture.

“Speaking personally, and not as mayor, my position is that I am not an Israeli; I’m a Jewish man living in England. It is an extremely sorry state of affairs whatever the rights and wrongs of it.

“Someone sent me an email saying we should rip down the Israeli flag.

“We are also twinned with Switzerland; are we going to rip down the Swiss flag as well?

“We have to be very careful when we make judgements. The right thing is for everyone to work towards a peaceful solution.

“Instead of cutting links, I would like us to have far more with other parts of the world including China. The more the world opens up the safer it will be.”

Cllr Anne Filer, who is also Jewish and a Netanya twinning committee member, said was saddened by Monday’s commando raid on the Gaza flotilla but stressed: “This should not affect our twinning links; if anything it should strengthen them.

“This is a temporary blip and I see no reason why our friendships should be jeopardised. We may go to Netanya later this year.

“The twinning link is not financially supported by Bournemouth council; it is completely independent. People mistakenly think it is a jolly but taxpayers don’t pay a single penny towards our twinning visits.”