An English council has defended its decision to hold talks with a Palestinian politician over plans to establish a 'twin town' agreement after it emerged that he was a convicted terrorist.
Preston City Council is pursuing a bid to twin itself with the city of Hebron in the occupied West Bank in a 'friendship agreement' that would symbolise its support for 'the people of Palestine' and those 'suffering through conflict across the globe'.
But the Labour-run authority has been met with anger from Jewish groups after it emerged that it would invite Tayseer Abu Sneineh, the mayor of Hebron, to address the working group behind the project.
Abu Sneineh was one of four Palestinian militants who attacked a group of Jews in an alley in Hebron on May 2 1980, killing six - three Israelis, two Americans and one Canadian - and injuring 20 others.
All had been returning home from Sabbath prayer services when they were attacked, and five of the six dead were young people aged between 20 and 21.
