Green Party Leader Faces Internal Challenge Over 'Zionism is Racism' Motion

Green Party leader Zack Polanski is facing a significant internal challenge as the party convenes for its conference, with a motion titled 'Zionism is Racism' threatening to divide the membership and potentially unseat him. The motion, which advocates that support for Zionism should be treated as racism, has gained substantial traction among a newly energized, hard-left faction of the party.

Polanski, who became leader just over a year ago, has been credited with galvanizing the Green Party, leading to increased poll numbers and electoral successes, including a notable by-election win and council gains. However, his leadership is now being tested by an activist-led motion that has become the most popular in the party's history. Critics argue that the motion's passage would effectively make it impossible for observant Jewish members to remain in the party and that it supports Palestinian 'resistance' by 'all available means, including armed struggle,' which some interpret as backing for groups like Hamas.

Despite Polanski's public statements describing Israel's response to the October 7 attacks as 'genocide,' concerns have been raised by party hardliners about his stance. Leaked messages suggest some members believe he is not sufficiently critical of Israel due to his Jewish background. The 'Zionism is Racism' motion, proposed by British-Palestinian artist Lubna Speitan, who admits to joining the party specifically to advance this agenda, has been promoted through online discussions featuring figures like Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu. Mos-Shogbamimu has previously shared controversial theories, including claims that Zionists and the Israeli government allowed the October 7 attacks to occur. Speitan herself has defended 'armed resistance' and dismissed reports of Hamas rapes as disinformation.

Some long-standing party members and critics, including former deputy leader Shahrar Ali, believe Polanski has inadvertently fostered a radical element within the party that is now turning against him for not meeting their stringent ideological purity tests. Ali stated that Polanski has created a 'monster' by aligning with the hard-Left and Islamists, and that the upcoming conference will be an 'existential moment' for him.

In response to the divisive motion, some within the party have proposed an alternative, 'Building a Consensus for Palestinian Liberation,' which seeks to unite the party while still criticizing Israel. However, this counter-motion has also faced extreme amendments from the pro-Palestine faction, including proposals to label Zionists as far-right extremists and to report them to the government's counter-extremism program, Prevent.

Polanski himself has attempted to navigate the complex issue, recently stating that if Zionism is defined as a 'displacement genocide,' then it is racism. This statement was met with some approval from pro-Palestine groups but highlights the delicate balance he must strike. The situation has led to concerns that the party could face significant internal strife, potentially impacting its electoral prospects and leadership stability. Some disillusioned members suggest that the current strategy could lead to the marginalization of moderate voices and a takeover by more extreme factions within the party.