Green Party members vote to declare Zionism a form of racism

Green Party members voted 1,022 to 813 for the motion at their conference in Brighton. It declares Zionism a form of racism and, under party rules, becomes official policy. It will not necessarily appear in the party’s next general-election manifesto. [1]

The motion describes Zionism as support for an “ethnonationalist Jewish state” and backs a “single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine”. Party leader Zack Polanski said Zionism, as defined in the motion, was racism, but wanted the single-state reference changed. Members also rejected a change he favoured that would have specified that Jewish members should not face discipline for attending synagogues that identify as Zionist. Polanski did not vote. [1]

Deputy leader Mothin Ali backed the motion, while fellow deputy Rachel Millward called its wording “problematic”. Four of the party’s five MPs opposed it, including Carla Denyer, who warned it could alienate many Jewish people. Ali said his support did not mean he was calling all Jewish people who identify as Zionists racist. [1]