At a conference in Brighton, members of the UK Green Party voted 1,022 to 813 to adopt a motion labeling Zionism as a form of racism. The resolution calls for the establishment of a single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine, with Jerusalem serving as its capital.
The 1,022 to 813 vote in Brighton
The UK Green Party has officially adopted a policy equating Zionism with racism. following the vote in Brighton, the motion calls for a single democratic Palestinian state covering all of historic Palestine, with Jerusalem as its capital. As the report states, this resolution aims to treat Zionism as any other form of racism, a task that will be overseen by the party's anti-racism policy working group.
The motion explicitly clarifies that it targets the political ideology and practice of Zionism rather than the religious or ethnic backgrounds of individuals. The party noted that not all Jews are Zionists and not all Zionists are Jews, attempting to draw a line between political belief and identity.
Shahrar Ali’s warning of an "openly anti-Semitic" party
The deciision has caused significant internal friction, particularly among Jewish members of the party. Former deputy leader Shahrar Ali described the outcome as a "sad day," telling the Daily Mail that the party has become the first "openly anti-Semitic party in the UK." According to the source, Ali warned that the motion does not seek a two-state solution based on 1967 borders, but rather the total "obliteration" of the state of Israel as a political entity.
The tension was compounded when members voted down an amendment that would have protected individuals from party discipline regarding their affiliation with Jewish community institutions. The intensity of the debate was such that Jewish members were provided with a designated safe room during the proceedings to ensure they did not feel endangered.
Challenging the Labour Party's stance on the Gaza crisis
This policy shift occurs against the backdrop of a devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza that has reshaped UK political discourse. With more than 73,500 Palestinians reported killed and over 174,000 wounded since October 2023,the Greens are positioning themselves to capture voters who feel the Labour Party has failed to take a clear moral stand. The report notes that Israel's Foreign Ministry has already slammed the resolution , arguing it falls far outside the boundaries of legitimate political debate.
By adopting this stance, the Greens hope to move beyond their roots as an environmentalist movement to become a significant socialist voice in the UK. This strategy seeks to attract a wider segment of the electorate that is increasingly skeptical of centrist leadership and the humanitarian situation in the Middle East.
The unanswered question of Zack Polanski’s abstention
The leadership's ability to maintain party unity is now a major point of uncertainty. While the party leadership emphasizes that the motion highlights systms of oppression rather than delegitimizing the state of Israel, the internal split is evident . The current leader, Zack Polanski,was absent from the vote due to a by-election campaign and ultimately chose to abstain, leaving his personal stance on the new policy unconfirmed.
Furthermore, the source highlights that three of the party's five MPs opposed the motion. This raises critical questions about whether the Greens' parliamentary wing can remain cohesive while its grassroots adopts such a radical platform, and whether the party can survive the inevitable backlash from international allies.
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