Green leader stands by Zionism motion

Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party in England and Wales, gave an unapologetic interview to the BBC on Sunday two weeks after his party approved a motion equating Zionism with racism.

Polanski calls Zionism racist in practice

Asked whether he thought Zionism was racist, Polanski said the ideology is racist in its practical application, pointing to Palestinians being murdered because they are Palestinian.

“I think Zionism is racism in the practical application of it.”

No state has right to exist, Polanski says

Polanski, who is Jewish, said he does not think any state has a right to exist under international law, and called the idea of a two-state solution for the birds given Israel's opposition to it.

“I don't think any state has a right to exist under international law.”

Lichtenstein disputes Polanski's claims

Vivien Lichtenstein, chair of the Jewish Greens, said Polanski should have attended conference online and voted, and disputed his claim that a majority of Jewish Greens supported the motion, saying they were evenly split.

“Zack should have joined conference online, listened to the speeches for and against and, crucially, spoken for those amendments he supported, then voted.”

Polanski's difficult two weeks as leader

Polanski's defiant interview comes after the most difficult two weeks of his leadership since taking over last September, during which he endured fallout from the conference vote and lost the Holborn and St Pancras byelection.

Polanski confident voters will return

Polanski said he was confident voters would return to his party once they saw more of Andy Burnham's leadership, saying the Greens have been right all along about change in rhetoric without change in action.

“People more and more will see from Andy Burnham a change in rhetoric, but not a change in action, and know the Green party have been right all along.”