Green Party Declares “Zionism is Racism” at Conference

At their recent conference in Brighton, the far-left Green Party of Britain has officially adopted a stance declaring that “Zionism is racism.” This shift, which appears to reflect a growing alignment with Islamic interests over its traditional environmental focus, was solidified after members voted on a motion proposed by the Greens for Palestine group. The motion was passed by a margin of 1,022 to 813, marking a significant policy change for the party.

The motion asserts that Zionism should be “treated as any other form of racism,” claiming it stems from European colonial structures of domination and oppression, creating racial hierarchies among different ethnicities of Jews in Palestine.

Interestingly, an amendment that sought to exempt Jewish members who congregate in synagogues or other pro-Zionist institutions was rejected. If passed, this would have meant that such members could face scrutiny from party leadership for practicing their faith in alignment with Zionism.

Moreover, the party chose not to accept an amendment that proposed removing the call for a “single Palestinian state.” These attempts to soften the party’s anti-Israel stance were supported by Green Party leader Zach Polanski, who has Eastern European Jewish heritage.

Despite these developments, Polanski chose to skip the vote while campaigning in the Holborn & St Pancras by-election for parliament. In previous remarks, he has identified as an “anti-Zionist” and offered tentative support for the recent motion, suggesting that it hinges on how one defines Zionism. He noted, for instance, that if Zionism involves the displacement of Palestinians, that could be deemed racist.

While he emphasizes practical actions like halting arms sales to Israel, reactions to the party’s new policy are mixed. Critics argue that Zionism is, at its core, about the Jewish people’s right to their ancestral homeland, which undermines the motion’s justification.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism voiced its concerns, stating the motion could effectively create a litmus test for Jewish individuals, most of whom identify as Zionist. A significant portion of British Jews also view anti-Zionism as a form of antisemitism. This has raised alarm among some Green Party members, including former leader Caroline Lucas, who argued that the lack of a single definition for Zionism could lead to divisions within the party and signal an unwelcoming atmosphere for Jewish members.

A spokesperson for the Green Party remarked that the debate surrounding the motion was serious and heartfelt among its members. They reiterated the party’s anti-racist position and commitment to addressing the illegal occupation of Palestinian and Syrian lands, as well as advocating for human rights and equality for all, regardless of religious affiliation.