Green Party Leader Rejects Exclusion After Controversial Zionism Motion Passes

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has publicly addressed the backlash surrounding a contentious policy motion adopted at his party's conference, stating that he would not permit anyone to be excluded from the party based on their religious or communal affiliations. The statement comes after members voted to approve a motion that declares Zionism a form of racism, a decision that has ignited intense debate both within the party and across the broader British political landscape.

In a lengthy statement released Tuesday, Polanski emphasised his commitment to ensuring that all members feel safe and welcome within the Green Party. He declared that he would not tolerate any exclusion or refusal to engage with individuals because of the religious or communal body they belong to. Polanski, who is Jewish himself, also asserted that antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli state must always remain completely separate concepts, drawing a clear distinction between the two.

The motion in question defines Zionism as an ideology that supports what it describes as an ethnonationalist Jewish state. It further endorses the establishment of a single democratic Palestinian state across all of historic Palestine. The proposal was introduced by a group of activists during the party's conference in Brighton and was passed by a margin of 1,022 votes to 813, reflecting significant support among the party's membership.

However, the vote has exposed deep divisions within the Green Party, particularly between its recently expanded membership base under Polanski's leadership and its parliamentary representatives. Polanski himself did not participate in the vote on Sunday, and four of the party's five MPs opposed the motion. This rift highlights the tension between the party's grassroots activism and its elected officials who must balance ideological purity with broader electoral appeal.

The language of the motion has proven particularly inflammatory, stating that the real and material manifestation of Zionism has been the historic and ongoing dehumanisation, displacement, dispossession, disenfranchisement and destruction of Palestinians. Such wording has prompted strong reactions from various quarters, including the Israeli government and Jewish community organisations.

Israel's foreign ministry responded swiftly by banning Polanski from entering the country, a significant diplomatic rebuke against the leader of a British political party. Additionally, several Jewish groups have characterised the motion as an attack on the Jewish community, arguing that equating Zionism with racism crosses a line into antisemitic territory.

The controversy has also attracted attention from across the political spectrum. More than a dozen Labour MPs reported the Green Party to the Equality and Human Rights Commission on Monday, expressing concerns that the motion raises serious questions about whether Jewish members can participate freely and equally within the party. The letter to the watchdog, organised by former Home Office minister Mike Tapp, specifically highlighted amendments designed to protect Jewish members attending Zionist synagogues that were voted down at the conference.

Nine Labour MPs have additionally referred the Green Party to Sussex Police, requesting that the force investigate whether possible antisemitic offences at the conference warrant a criminal investigation. The police force and the Green Party have both been contacted for comment regarding these referrals.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission, which regulates equality law in Great Britain, has stated it will consider each complaint carefully. The watchdog has not yet launched a formal investigation into the matter at this stage. The EHRC previously found failings in how the Labour Party handled antisemitism allegations, making its potential involvement in this case particularly significant. The commission reminded political parties of their obligations under the Equality Act 2010, noting that they must take steps to avoid discrimination.

The European Green Party, the umbrella organisation to which the Green Party of England and Wales belongs, released a statement on Monday indicating it wanted to unequivocally distance itself from the motion. The body said it would immediately demand clarity from the party's leadership regarding how they intend to protect Jewish people and uphold the principle of self-determination.

Green MP Ellie Chowns offered a different perspective during an appearance on BBC Radio 4's PM programme. She expressed being deeply saddened that the motion had become official party policy but disagreed with characterising it as antisemitic. Chowns argued that the motion was underpinned by principled opposition to the actions of the Israeli government rather than any form of prejudice. She also raised concerns about the party's policymaking processes, noting that less than one per cent of the party's more than 200,000 members had participated in the vote, suggesting that a review of these procedures may be necessary.

The fallout from this vote represents a significant challenge for Polanski, who has been working to position the Green Party as a credible alternative to the mainstream parties. The controversy threatens to overshadow the party's broader policy agenda and could complicate its efforts to appeal to a diverse electorate. It also places the Greens in a difficult position, caught between the demands of their activist base and the need to maintain broad electoral appeal while avoiding the kind of internal strife that has plagued other parties on issues related to Israel and Palestine.

The coming weeks will likely see continued pressure on Polanski and the Green Party leadership to clarify their position and take concrete steps to address the concerns raised by Jewish members and external organisations. How the party navigates this controversy could have lasting implications for its internal cohesion and its standing in British politics.