Israel's foreign ministry has barred UK Green Party leader Zack Polanski from entering the country after his party members voted to define Zionism as a racist ideology.

Israel’s foreign ministry has announced a travel ban against UK Green Party leader Zack Polanski following a controversial motion passed by party members at their Brighton conference. The motion, which defines Zionism as a form of racism and an "ethnonationalist" ideology, was approved by a vote of 1,022 to 813. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar condemned the decision as a "clear antisemitic text" that falls outside the boundaries of legitimate political debate.

Party Division and Motion Details

The motion, which advocates for a single democratic Palestinian state across historic Palestine, has caused significant internal friction within the Green Party. While party leader Zack Polanski, who is Jewish, did not participate in the vote and reportedly supported amendments to soften the language, other senior figures remain divided. Deputy leader Mothin Ali supported the motion, whereas fellow deputy leader Rachel Millward described the wording as "problematic." Proponents of the motion, including member Lubna Speitan, argued that the policy serves as a stand against what they described as racist systems of oppression. Conversely, the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council issued a joint statement criticizing the vote as an attack on the Jewish community, arguing that it stokes anti-Jewish hatred.

Official Response and Context

The Israeli foreign ministry characterized the motion as a "stain on the history of the United Kingdom." The UK's ruling Labour Party also condemned the vote, specifically criticizing the party's move away from supporting a two-state solution. Polanski, who left the conference early to campaign for a by-election in Holborn and St Pancras, had previously stated that his opposition to Zionism was linked to concerns regarding the displacement of people.