The UK Green Party recently passed a motion at its conference declaring Zionism to be a form of racism. This vote, which passed 1,022 to 813, has led to claims that the party is effectively banning Jewish individuals from membership.
The 1,022-to-813 vote against Zionism
During the final day of its conference, the Green Party debated and passed a motion that classifies Zionism—the belief in the Jewish people's right to self-determination in their ancestral homeland—as a form of racism. According to the source, the motion passed with 1,022 votes in favor and 813 against, signaling a significant ideological shift within the party's membership.
The report says that this classification means Zionism should be "treated like any other form of racism" by the party. Because the Green Party maintains a strict policy against allowing racists or members of racist organizations to hold membership, the author argues that this vote creates a systemic barrier for the vast majority of Britain's 300,000 Jews.
How the anti-racism policy working group may exclude Jewish members
The implementation of this new stance rests with the Green Party's anti-racism policy working group. as the source reported, the party announced that the motion would be executed by this group in accordance with its "ordinary practice ." This creates a precarious situation for any member who identifies as a Zionist or belongs to a synagogue or Jewish organization , as these affiliations could now be interpreted as membership in a "racist" movement.
This move represents a broader trend of redefining "anti-racism" to include the delegitimization of national self-determination. By framing the existence of the state of Israel as inherently racist, the Green Party's policy effectively labels a core identity of the global Jewish community as a violation of the party's own conduct rules.
Mothin Ali and the influence of Greens For Palestine
The ideological push is closely linked to specific figures and factions, most notably Deputy Leader Mothin Ali and the group Greens For Palestine. The source highlights that Mothin Ali, a Leeds councillor, has previously used the phrase "Allahu Akbar" upon his election and wrote following the October 7 massacre that "indigenous people have the right to fight back" against "white supremacist European settler colonialism."
Furthermore, Greens For Palestine produced a booklet titled "Zionism is Racism: Why it matters," which urged members to support the motion and defended the "inalienable right" to armed Palestinian resistance. This alignment is further complicated by the "Muslim Vote" umbrella group , which supported 56 Green candidates in 2024 and has sought a "grand deal" with the party.
A shift from the Corbyn era toward a 10 per cent poll rating
The current trajectory of the Green Party echoes the period when the Labour Party, under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn, was criticized for allowing anti-Semitism to permeate its ranks . The source suggests that the Green Party has built upon those foundations, transforming what was once a fringe sentiment into a basic party principle.
While some may dismiss the Green Party as a minor player, the report notes that the party maintains an average poll rating of around 10 per cent. In the event of a hung Parliament, the Green Party's influence could be pivotal, meaning its internal policies on Zionism and Jewish membership could have tangible effects on national governance and the administration of councils where thousands of Jews reside.
The missing response from the Green Party leadership
Despite the gravity of the claims, the source provides a one-sided account, leaving several critical questions unanswered. It remains unclear exactly how the anti-racism policy working group intends to define "Zionism" in practice—whether it applies only to political Zionism or extends to the mere acknowledgement of Israel's right to exist.
Additionally, there is no official statement from the Green Party leadership in the text to clarify if they intend to purge existing Jewish members or if there are exemptions for those who distinguish between Zionism and the policies of the Israeli government. Without a formal response from the party's executive, the full scope of the membership ban remains an interpretation of the motion's language.
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