The UK's Green Party has voted to define Zionism as a form of racism, a decision made at the party's annual conference on Sunday. The move has ignited significant criticism from British Jewish organizations and the Israeli government.
The resolution, which passed with 1,022 votes in favour and 813 against, states that Zionism will be "treated as any other form of racism." The party also expressed support for the establishment of a "single democratic Palestinian State in all of historic Palestine." A Green Party spokesperson acknowledged the debate was "serious and deeply felt within our membership."
The Green Party, which holds five seats in the UK Parliament, has seen a rise in popularity, attracting voters disillusioned with the Labour government's stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict. However, recent polls suggest a dip in leader Zack Polanski's popularity following several perceived missteps.
Leading British Jewish community groups warned the motion could be interpreted as an "overtly antisemitic political platform," the first of its kind for an electorally significant UK party in recent memory. In a letter to the party prior to the vote, representatives from the Board of Deputies, Community Security Trust, and Jewish Leadership Council emphasized the potential implications for the safety and welfare of British Jews.
Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs condemned the resolution, stating it "goes far beyond the boundaries of legitimate political debate" and called for unequivocal rejection from all British political parties, particularly Labour. President Isaac Herzog described the Green Party's decision as "a disgrace," affirming that "Zionism is the national liberation movement of the Jewish people, and it forms the basis for the Jewish people's right to a state and a national home in the Land of Israel." The vote highlighted internal divisions, with at least three of the party's five MPs reportedly opposing the motion. Leader Zack Polanski, who is seeking election as an MP, abstained from the vote, despite having previously described the "displacement and genocide of the Palestinian people" as "clearly racism." This statement aligns with findings by United Nations investigators, which Israel disputes, accusing it of committing "genocide" in the Gaza war.
