Green Party Adopts Motion Calling Zionism a Form of Racism, Exposing Deep Internal Divisions

Green Party members have voted to adopt a policy motion that characterises Zionism as a form of racism, a decision that has laid bare significant disagreements among the party's most senior figures and sparked condemnation from Jewish community organisations.

The motion was approved by party activists at their conference in Brighton by a margin of 1022 votes to 813, following a debate that had dominated proceedings over the three-day gathering. It defines Zionism as an ideology supporting "an ethnonationalist Jewish state" and endorses the creation of "a single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine."

The text of the motion asserts that the "real, material, manifestation of Zionism has been the historic and ongoing dehumanisation, displacement, dispossession, disenfranchisement and destruction of Palestinians." The proposal was brought forward by a group of rank-and-file members rather than the party leadership.

The vote has exposed a rift between the party's expanded grassroots membership, which has grown considerably since Zack Polanski became leader in September last year, and its parliamentary representatives elected at the last general election. The party's joint deputy leaders found themselves on opposing sides of the argument, with Mothin Ali expressing support for the motion while Rachel Millward described its wording as "problematic."

Four of the party's five MPs publicly opposed the motion. Ellie Chowns, Adrian Ramsay, Carla Denyer and Sian Berry all came out against it, with Denyer cautioning that it risked "alienating a significant proportion of Jewish people." Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas also spoke against the motion during the conference debate, urging members to reject what she called the "over-simplification at the heart of this motion."

The controversy prompted a joint letter from the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council ahead of the vote. In a statement issued on Sunday evening, the two organisations described the motion as an "attack on the Jewish community," arguing that "Zionism is anti-racism, creating a refuge for Jews in their ancient homeland after millennia of persecution outside it."

The organisations further warned that "branding most British Jews and Jewish institutions 'racist' stokes anti-Jewish hatred," referencing a year in which "British Jews have been murdered attending their synagogue, stabbed in the streets, and seen their community buildings firebombed." The statement also directed "particular criticism" at Polanski, noting that he neither spoke against the motion nor participated in the vote, while welcoming subsequent cross-party condemnation of the decision.

The reaction from Israel was swift and severe. Israel's Foreign Ministry said the motion went beyond "the boundaries of legitimate political debate" and constituted "a stain on the history of the United Kingdom." Later on Sunday, the ministry announced that Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar had barred Polanski from entering Israel in response to the vote.

Lubna Speitan, the Green member who brought the motion forward, defended it after the result was announced. She argued that its supporters wanted to express opposition to "racist systems of oppression," adding: "We stand united against all forms of racism and discrimination - no exemptions."

Polanski had earlier attempted to amend the motion, seeking to remove the reference to a single Palestinian state. He argued: "I don't believe we as a Green Party of England and Wales, or even the British government, should be deciding what the future settlement looks like." He had also proposed an amendment specifying that the motion should not be used to discipline Jewish members who attend synagogues identifying as Zionist. Both amendments favoured by the leader were rejected by members.

Speaking on Friday before the vote, Polanski said: "If your Zionism is the displacement of the Palestinian people then that is clearly racist, and I say that as a Jewish leader of a British political party." The leader did not participate in the debate, having left the conference early to campaign in Holborn and St Pancras, where he is standing to become an MP.

Following the vote, Polanski added his name to a joint statement issued by the party's five MPs and deputy leaders. The statement pledged to ensure the Green Party remained "an anti-racist party in every way" and asserted there was "no conflict between supporting the rights of Palestinians and the rights of Jewish people." A Green spokeswoman insisted the party would protect Jewish members and that they would not face persecution for attending synagogues that define themselves as Zionist.

Vivien Lichtenstein, chair of Jewish Greens, told the BBC after the motion was approved that she could consider her future within the party. Her comments underscore concerns that the decision could accelerate a departure of Jewish members who feel the party no longer represents them.

The conference also saw pro-Israel activists demonstrating outside the venue on Saturday, waving Israeli flags alongside Union Jacks, while police maintained a presence in the foreground. The scene illustrated the heightened emotions surrounding the debate both inside and outside the conference hall.

The vote represents a significant moment for the Green Party, which has seen its membership surge since Polanski took the helm. The decision to adopt the motion may have lasting implications for the party's relationship with Jewish communities and could shape how it positions itself on Middle East policy in future electoral contests.