Green Party votes on Zionism

Members of the Green Party voted to define Zionism as racism at their annual conference in Brighton. The motion passed with one thousand twenty-two votes in favour and eight hundred thirteen against.

Polanski absent from vote

Green Party leader Zack Polanski did not take part in the vote, having left the conference to campaign in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.

Israel declares Polanski barred

Israel's foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar declared Zack Polanski barred from entering Israel in response to the Green Party motion. Israel accused the party of legitimising the destruction of the State of Israel.

What the motion declares

The motion declares the Greens an anti-Zionist party and sets Zionism to be treated as any other form of racism. It also supports a single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital.

Polanski defends the party

In a statement with Green MPs and deputies, Zack Polanski said there is no conflict between supporting the rights of Palestinians and the rights of Jewish people.

“no conflict between supporting the rights of Palestinians and the rights of Jewish people”

No disciplinary action planned

Former councillor Salma Yaqoob said the motion is not a disciplinary issue and nobody will be removed or suspended for believing in Zionism. The Green Party said the motion has no material impact on governance or disciplinary procedures.

“absolutely not”

Jewish groups condemn motion

The Board of Deputies of British Jews said the Greens have become an extremist party. They called the motion an attack on the Jewish community and an antisemitic platform based on distortion of Jewish experience.

“an extremist party”

Members reject safeguard clause

Green Party members voted against adding a clause to protect party members from pressure or discipline for affiliating with synagogues or Jewish groups that describe themselves as Zionist.