England and Wales Greens adopt policy equating Zionism with racism
The Green Party in England and Wales has adopted a motion stating that Zionism should be treated as racism, with delegates voting 1,022 to 813 at the party’s annual conference. The decision has drawn criticism from four of the party’s five MPs and concern from some Jewish members.
The Green Party in England and Wales has adopted a policy calling for Zionism to be treated as a form of racism after delegates voted in favour of the motion at the party’s annual conference in Brighton. The motion passed by 1,022 votes to 813. It also calls for a single Palestinian state replacing Israel, with equal rights for all, according to the source material.
The motion’s supporters said it targeted Zionism as a political ideology and practice rather than Jewish or ethnic identity. Its text said not all Jews were Zionists and not all Zionists were Jews, and instructed the party’s anti-racism policy working group to implement the policy. An amendment aimed at updating other parts of Green policy was approved.
Three other amendments were rejected, including one that would have stated the motion should not be used to pressure, proscribe or discipline members because of links to Jewish community institutions. The motion was promoted by Greens for Palestine, which encouraged non-party members to join so the issue could be debated and adopted. Some Jewish Greens have expressed concern that the policy could make it harder for them to remain in the party.
The Jewish Greens group said it would comment publicly after consulting members. Four of the party’s five MPs opposed the motion, as did former leader Caroline Lucas. Adrian Ramsay said it prescribed the form of a future Palestinian state without adequately considering the self-determination of Israelis and Palestinians.
Siân Berry also opposed the motion. Carla Denyer said its wording risked alienating Jewish people, including those who strongly disagreed with the Israeli government, while Ellie Chowns warned that it could deepen divisions and weaken the party’s ability to advocate for peace and justice. Party leader Zack Polanski, who missed the vote while campaigning in a parliamentary by-election, defended the motion’s argument in comments to the BBC.
He said the motion defined Zionism through the displacement and genocide of Palestinians and that this was clearly racism.
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