# Greens clash over 'Zionism is racism' policy

> The Green party's top-voted conference motion equating Zionism with racism puts leader Zack Polanski under pressure to take a public stance.
- Title: Greens clash over 'Zionism is racism' policy · the Guardian
- Summary: The Green party's top-voted conference motion equating Zionism with racism puts leader Zack Polanski under pressure to take a public stance. Polanski faces a…
- Keywords: green party, zack polanski, zionism, israel-palestine, party conference, policy motion, jewish members, antisemitism, leadership, brighton conference, news, world
- Source: the Guardian — https://theguardian.com/politics/2026/sep/17/greens-push-zack-polanski-to-take-stance-on-proposed-policy-declaring-zionism-is-racism
- Published: 2026-09-17T17:06:14+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: green party, zack polanski, zionism, israel-palestine, party conference, policy motion, jewish members, antisemitism, leadership, brighton conference, news, world
## Greens vote on Zionism motion
The Green party's top-ranked policy motion for October's Brighton conference would declare Zionism is racism and call for a single Palestinian state.
## Polanski stays silent on motion
Green leader Zack Polanski has not publicly commented on the motion, though he is believed to have reservations about it.
## Party fears Jewish members alienated
Senior Greens worry the motion could make Jewish supporters feel unwelcome and damage the party's relationship with the UK Jewish community.

> The risk is that if it passes as it is we are alienating ourselves from the Jewish community in the UK
## Polanski caught between factions
The leader faces pressure from left-wing members who joined under his leadership with strong views on Gaza and Israel, while also needing to protect Jewish members.

> Zack can try to be everything to everyone, and that doesn't always work in politics
## Amendments proposed to soften motion
Two amendments have been tabled to tone down the language, which Polanski appears to support as a middle ground.
## Leadership test at autumn conference
Whether Polanski publicly opposes the motion will signal whether he can challenge newer members from Jeremy Corbyn's Labour without fracturing the party.
## Key takeaway

Polanski faces a leadership test as he navigates between Jewish members who could feel unwelcome and left-wing activists with strong views on Israel-Palestine.