The UK Green Party has voted to classify Zionism as a form of racism, a decision that has drawn sharp condemnation from the Israeli government and British Jewish groups.
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ManyPress Editorial
Key facts
- •The motion passed by a margin of 1,022 votes to 813 at the Green Party conference.
- •The policy calls for the establishment of a single democratic state across historic Palestine.
- •The Israeli government accused the party of adopting the ideology of Hamas.
- •Four of the party's five MPs opposed the motion.
- •Legal experts warned the policy may violate the UK's Equality Act 2010.
The UK Green Party has formally adopted a policy equating Zionism with racism, calling for Israel to be replaced by a single Palestinian state. The motion passed at the party’s conference in Brighton with 1,022 votes in favor and 813 against. The decision has sparked significant backlash, with the Israeli government labeling the resolution a "stain on the history of the United Kingdom" and accusing the party of legitimizing terrorism.
By the numbers
Party Division and Legal Concerns
The motion faced opposition from many senior party figures, including four of the party’s five MPs. While proponents argued the policy defines Zionism as an ethnonationalist project associated with ethnic cleansing and genocide, critics expressed concern over potential discrimination. An amendment intended to protect members from disciplinary action based on their affiliation with Jewish institutions was voted down. Legal experts have suggested the policy could face challenges under the Equality Act 2010. Barrister Adam Wagner KC noted a "strong risk" that the motion could be found to discriminate against or harass individuals who hold Zionist beliefs or Jewish people generally.
International and Domestic Reaction
The Israeli foreign ministry condemned the vote, stating that the resolution calls for the destruction of the State of Israel and labels the Jewish aspiration for self-determination as racist. British Jewish groups, including the Movement for Progressive Judaism, also denounced the move, with some characterizing the policy as institutional antisemitism. Green Party deputy leader Mothin Ali defended the motion, citing the death toll in the conflict between Israel and Hamas as the context for the vote. Party leadership, including Zack Polanski, stated that they intend to continue criticizing the Israeli government while maintaining that there is no conflict between supporting Palestinian rights and the rights of Jewish people.
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This article was independently rewritten by ManyPress editorial AI from reporting originally published by Guardian Politics (UK), Guardian Politics (UK), Daily Maverick, Straits Times World.
