At Tuesday’s Nelson city council meeting, councillors heard a proposal from the Ras al-Auja Sister City Friendship Group who are seeking to establish a sister city relationship with Ras al-Auja, a Bedouin community in the West Bank. Members Sarah Simonet, Paul Szabo and Xochilt Ramirez said the initiative grew out of months of community engagement in Nelson. “Nelson citizens from many walks of life have already a robust connection with Ras-al-Auja, which they wish to further develop through a sister city relationship, so that we can collaborate to promote the goals of exchange, diversity and goodwill,” said Ramirez. Council generally expressed support for the proposal but noted that the city does not yet have a formal policy on sister city relationships. Councillors also stressed that more work is needed to clarify procedures and roles before a formal sister city relationship can be established.