A SENIOR councillor will urge Oxford to formalise links with the Palestinian city of Ramallah next week.

John Tanner, who plays a key role in Oxford's twinning with cities including Leon in Nicaragua, will also ask for the council to support further twinning.

Ramallah is a highly educated, cultural hub in the West Bank and lies about six miles north of Jerusalem.

Some refugee camps are located on the outside of the city.

Its population is about 30,000 and Muslims form the majority of its population; Christians make up a significant minority.

A motion, which is set to be heard at Oxford City Council next Monday, will urge the authority to 'reaffirm its commitment to do all it can to ensure that the city remains an international and European city open to all'.

He will add: "Whatever the results of Britain's negotiations with the rest of the European Union, we are determined to strengthen and deep Oxford's links with other cities inside and outside Europe."

Mr Tanner has already helped with establishing links with Polish city Wroclaw and Italian city Padua, which are likely to be formalised soon.

Oxford's existing formal twinning links are with Dutch city Leiden, Bonn in Germany, Grenoble in France, Perm in Russia and Leon.

Mr Tanner is also a leading member of the Oxford European Association.