Green Party Leader Defends Zionism-as-Racism Motion, Refuses to Overturn

Motion Passes Despite Controversy

The Green Party passed a motion at its recent conference declaring Zionism a form of racism, described as an ideology supporting an ethnonationalist Jewish state in historic Palestine to the exclusion or domination of non-Jewish populations. The measure passed with 1,022 votes to 813—a small fraction of the party's 230,000 members voting at the Brighton conference. The motion also endorsed a single democratic state throughout historic Palestine, a full arms embargo on Israel, and Palestinian liberation commitments.

Leader Resists Overturning the Decision

Green Party leader Zack Polanski announced he will not overturn the controversial motion, though he expressed desire to amend it at the first available opportunity in 2028. When asked whether he would change party rules to act sooner, Polanski stated he respects the democratic will of members and cannot override conference decisions within the current two-year policy window. He acknowledged the motion divided the party and sparked backlash from MPs, Jewish campaigners, the government, and the European Green movement, with the equality watchdog requesting further information from the party.

Polanski himself did not vote on the motion, having previously stated he would not have supported it without two specific amendments. The first would have avoided committing to a single democratic state, and the second would have prevented the motion from being used to discipline Jewish Green members who attend Zionist-affiliated synagogues. Both amendments were rejected by conference attendees.

Polanski's Defense and Jewish Identity

When questioned directly whether he believes Zionism is racist, Polanski—who is Jewish—deflected by stating the real controversy involves the death of 75,000 Palestinians in recent years. He acknowledged that many Jewish people view Zionism as the right to a safe homeland but argued that in practical application, this homeland has come at the cost of the Palestinian people. He emphasized wanting equal rights for both Israelis and Palestinians, claiming the practical application of Zionism has not achieved this outcome.

Asked whether Israel has a right to exist, Polanski took a more radical position, asserting that no state has a right to exist under international law. He declined to apologize for his handling of the row, stating explicitly: I'm not sorry at all. He has insisted that no Jewish Green members will be excluded based on faith or background, and maintained that being Jewish and supporting Israel are separate matters.

Mounting Political Pressure

The fallout from the motion overshadowed the final days of Polanski's campaign in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, where he came second to Labour. The controversy threatened his leadership and sparked criticism from across the political spectrum. Labour announced it will end power-sharing agreements with Green councils unless their councillors disown the motion, while Prime Minister Andy Burnham called the motion antisemitic. Polanski deflected responsibility, saying it was up to Green councillors to decide their own positions.

Former Green co-leader Adrian Ramsay called for action to address the policy sooner, arguing it has created huge political distraction for councillors across the country. He proposed holding a ballot of all party members to establish where the broader party actually stands, suggesting the results would differ from conference outcomes. Green MPs, including Ellie Chowns, have called for review of the party's member-led decision-making procedures, noting that only a tiny fraction of the membership voted on the measure.

Jewish Community Response

Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, accused Polanski of being inconsistent on the issue. Rosenberg stated the Green Party platform now erases Jewish identity and experience, calls for Israel's elimination, and signals to the vast majority of Jews—who overwhelmingly support Israel's right to exist—that they are unwelcome in the party. Vivien Lichtenstein, chair of Jewish Greens, has publicly asked Polanski to apologize for his handling of the controversy, a request he explicitly rejected.