Lucas opposes Zionism motion

Caroline Lucas, former Green Party leader from two thousand eight to two thousand fourteen, has criticised a motion to define Zionism as racism at the party's annual conference in Brighton this weekend.

What the motion would do

If approved, the motion would make it official Green Party policy that Zionism, the movement to create a Jewish state in the Middle East, is racism and should be treated as such.

Lucas warns of division

Lucas told BBC Radio four there is no single definition of Zionism and said the motion risks being divisive and making Jewish people feel unwelcome in the party.

“There is no single definition of Zionism, and irrespective of the intentions of the people who put that motion forward, I think there is a real risk that it'll be divisive and could be seen as a sign that Jewish people aren't welcome in the party.”

Other senior figures oppose it

Adrian Ramsay, Green MP for Waveney Valley and former co-leader, told The Times he would vote against the motion, saying it contradicts the party's two thousand twenty four manifesto commitment to equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians.

Current leader undecided

Zack Polanski, the current Green Party leader, said he is undecided but proposed two amendments to protect Jewish members of Zionist synagogues from being treated differently within the party.

“If someone stands against the occupation, stands against the apartheid and stands against the genocide, that happens to be a member of a synagogue that calls itself a Zionist synagogue, they should not be treated any different within the Green Party.”

Polanski warns of distraction

Polanski said without his proposed amendments the motion would create a distraction and allow both the party and pro-Palestinian activists to be attacked, rather than advancing peace and justice.

“I think ultimately, what it does is create a distraction and a conversation where both the party and pro-Palestinian activists and anyone who cares about peace and justice can be attacked now.”