Green Party members have voted to declare Zionism a form of racism, a decision that has exposed deep divisions within the party’s leadership and drawn sharp criticism from Jewish organisations. The motion, passed at the party’s conference in Brighton, received 1,022 votes in favour and 813 against. In the same session, members also committed the party to supporting a “single democratic Palestinian state” after rejecting an amendment backed by leader Zack Polanski that would have altered that wording.
Conference Vote and Motion Details
The motion defines Zionism as an ideology that supports “an ethnonationalist Jewish state”. It characterises the real‑world expression of Zionism as “the historic and ongoing dehumanisation, displacement, dispossession, disenfranchisement and destruction of Palestinians”. Alongside this definition, the text endorses a “single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine”.
Delegates debated the proposal for much of the three‑day gathering, which saw a surge in attendance following Polanski’s election as leader the previous year. The vote was close, reflecting the contentious nature of the subject. Although the motion carries the weight of official party policy under Green rules, it does not automatically become part of the election manifesto.
Leadership Divisions
The party’s two deputy leaders took opposing stances. Mothin Ali voiced support for the motion, arguing that it calls for a democratic state guaranteeing the rights of every person living on the land and emphasising that he was “absolutely not” labelling all Jewish people who identify as Zionists as racist.
Rachel Millward, the other deputy leader, described the wording as “problematic”, warning that the language could alienate members and outside observers. Party leader Zack Polanski, while stating that he believed the motion’s definition of Zionism amounted to racism, sought two amendments: one to remove the reference to a single Palestinian state, and another to clarify that the motion should not be used to discipline Jewish members attending synagogues that consider themselves Zionist. Both amendments were defeated by the conference floor.
Polanski did not cast a vote, having left the Brighton event early to campaign in Holborn and St Pancras, where he is standing as a parliamentary candidate. A party spokeswoman later reassured that Jewish members would be protected and would not face persecution for attending Zionist‑affiliated synagogues.
Reactions from Jewish Groups and Internal Figures
The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council issued a joint letter ahead of the vote, asserting that Zionism is an anti‑racist movement that arose as a response to centuries of antisemitism, providing a refuge for Jews in their historic homeland. They warned that the motion could jeopardise the safety of Jewish members within the Green Party and affect Jewish institutions in areas represented by Greens.
Several Green MPs expressed concern. Ellie Chowns, Adrian Ramsay and Carla Denyer opposed the motion, with Denyer cautioning that it risked “alienating a significant proportion of Jewish people”. Former leader Caroline Lucas told the BBC that she saw “no single definition of Zionism” and warned that the wording could be perceived as a sign that Jewish people are not welcome in the party, potentially causing division.
Mothin Ali, despite his support, sought to clarify that the motion’s intent was not to brand all Jewish Zionists as racist, but to advocate for a democratic arrangement that respects everyone’s rights.
Implications for Party Policy
Under the Green Party’s internal procedures, motions endorsed by the membership become official party policy, although they are not automatically incorporated into the election manifesto. The adopted stance therefore signals the party’s position on the Israeli‑Palestinian conflict for the immediate future, shaping its public statements, campaign material and potential lobbying efforts.
The split within the leadership suggests that implementing the policy may face internal resistance, particularly from elected officials who fear electoral backlash or who view the wording as overly simplistic. How the party navigates these tensions will likely influence its cohesion and its appeal to both progressive voters and minority communities in forthcoming elections.
Why it Matters
The Green Party’s decision to label Zionism as racism marks a significant shift in British left‑wing discourse on the Israeli‑Palestinian issue, reflecting growing grassroots pressure to take a unequivocal stance. While the motion energises supporters who view it as a necessary condemnation of perceived injustices, it also risks alienating Jewish members and supporters, potentially undermining the party’s broad‑based appeal. The ensuing debate highlights the challenge of balancing solidarity with Palestinian rights against concerns of antisemitism, a tension that will reverberate beyond the conference hall and into the party’s future electoral strategy.
