Twin Cities –
Ramat Gan, Israel
Huntington Beach City Council
October 15, 2024
10/15/2024
10 (24-740)
Background
On September 17, 2024, the City Council approved a Council Member Item brought forward by Mayor Gracey Van Der Mark and Council Member Tony Strickland directing the City Manager’s Office to implement steps to establish a Memorandum of Understanding as Sister Cities with Ramat Gan, Israel.
• Establishment of Committee – Three City Council Members and one City staff (Mayor Van Der Mark, Mayor Pro Tem Burns, Council Member Strickland, Jennifer Carey – Acting Deputy City Manager) Ramat Gan, Israel
• Population of approximately 200,000 (similar to Huntington Beach) • Located in Tel Aviv District, known as a Coastal District • Established in 1914, founded in 1921
• Home to Israel’s largest hospital & world’s largest diamond exchange
• Both Ramat Gan & Huntington Beach have a history of agriculture • Both Ramat Gan & Huntington Beach are home to Chabad Centers • Ramat Gan passed Huntington Beach Twin City Resolution Israel Global Foundation
• California Nonprofit Corporation
• Founded in July 2023
• Mission: Secure the existence of Israel by strengthening the relationship between the world & Israel through innovative education, advocacy, delegation & coalition building.
• Hosted numerous advocacy & education events, such as:
• “Stand with Israel – Commemorating October 7”
• “Stand with Israel – Testimony from Holocaust & October 7 Witnesses” (In partnership with Orange County Israel
Foundation)
• “Teaching Tolerance at a Young Age – Joseph Alexander” • “Exposing Antisemitism & Terrorism”
Recommendation
Adopt Resolution No. 2024-55, “A Resolution of the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach, California Authorizing a Twin City Partnership with the City of Ramat-Gan, Israel.”
• Partnership with Ramat Gan, Israel, with Israel Global Foundation (IGF) acting as non-profit liaison.
• Similar to a Sister City Association, IGF to oversee fundraising efforts to fund advocacy/education programming in Huntington Beach & Ramat Gan.
• City to provide meeting & facility space for education programming & ongoing engagement.
Questions?