Green Party Investigates Member Behind Controversial Zionism Motion

The Green Party has initiated an internal investigation into party member Lubna Speitan, following reports that she was identified in court documents as a "close friend" of a man later imprisoned for supporting al-Qaeda. Speitan was the proponent of a contentious motion passed at a Green Party conference, which characterized Zionism as a form of racism.

A spokesperson for the Green Party stated that the party has internal processes to investigate when members express views inconsistent with the party's values, confirming that an investigation is currently underway. Prior to the party's confirmation, Speitan addressed the matter on Instagram, asserting that she rejects all defamatory and baseless claims made against her and any attempts to decontextualize her past statements. She described the situation as a "classic distraction" and urged for a focus on racism, Zionism, and the "ethnic cleansing and genocide of Palestinians."

In June, a UN commission of inquiry reported that Israel had deliberately targeted Palestinian children, leading to findings of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes in the Gaza Strip. Israel has consistently denied its actions in Gaza constitute genocide, maintaining they are justified as self-defense.

Speitan, a British-Palestinian artist, proposed the motion that defined Zionism as an ideology supporting "an ethnonationalist Jewish state." The motion, approved by party members with 1,022 votes in favor and 813 against, also advocated for "a single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine." While Green Party rules dictate that member-supported motions become official party policy, they are not guaranteed inclusion in the party's manifesto for the next general election.

The motion drew criticism from opposition parties and some Jewish groups, who denounced it as an "attack on the Jewish community." Notably, four out of five Green Party Members of Parliament also opposed the motion. Adrian Ramsay, a former party leader and Green MP, described the motion as an "unhelpful distraction" and "wrong in principle," emphasizing the Green Party's consistent support for the right to self-determination for all peoples.

On Tuesday, The Jewish Chronicle reported on a 2015 letter from Speitan offering to testify as a defense witness in the trial of Minh Quang Pham. U.S. prosecutors had stated that Pham was directed by al-Qaeda leader Anwar al-Awlaki to carry out bombings in Heathrow's arrivals area after receiving training in Yemen. Pham pleaded guilty to supporting al-Qaeda and was sentenced to 40 years in the U.S., though he denied planning a suicide attack.

In the 2015 U.S. court documents, Speitan was listed as a "close friend" who could offer "critical testimony regarding Pham's mental state." In a subsequent letter to the U.S. District Judge, Speitan expressed high regard for Pham, suggesting that a deeper understanding of him might have led to the case's dismissal. She acknowledged he might have had "behavioral issues" but described him as one of the kindest, most sincere, trustworthy, and respectful individuals she has ever known. The court documents do not suggest Speitan was aware of Pham's alleged criminal activities at the time of their acquaintance.

Following the emergence of the letter, the Green Party issued a statement confirming an investigation is underway. A spokesperson clarified that Speitan holds no official party positions beyond her membership.