The link between Pendle and its twin town of Beit Leed in Palestine was sealed with the meeting of their two mayors as the Mayor of Pendle, Coun. Graham Roach, received Fawaz Joma, Mayor of Beit Leed, at Nelson Town Hall.
The meeting was arranged by the Pendle Palestine Twinning Group as part of a visit which brought six young visitors to the area.
Spokesman Richard MacSween said: “Our friendship with Beit Leed actually goes back seven years, but with the twinning having now been formalised by Pendle Council, we were very glad to be able to bring about this meeting of the two mayors.
“This was at no cost to tax payers, I should say, as all the costs were met by donations from the people of Pendle who have been very generous in their support.”
Beit Leed’s mayor was accompanied by three other residents of Beit Leed, two 13-year-old boys, Osayd Khasati and Hamid Joma, as well as Sameeh Othman who with his family has had several Pendle people to stay with them at their home town.
Mr MacSween said: ‘Personally I’ve stayed three times with Sameeh and his family and they have made me very welcome, as indeed did everybody in Beit Leed.
“They very much appreciate their twinning with Pendle. In the face of the Israeli military occupation, they are glad to know that many people in the UK support them.
“The recent Commons vote to recognise Palestine has similarly given them a boost.”