Green Party Leader Vows to Prevent Extremist 'Capture' After Zionism Policy Vote

The Green Party is taking steps to ensure it is not "vulnerable to capture by extremists and racists," according to Westminster leader Ellie Chowns. Her comments come after party members voted to adopt a policy motion that declared Zionism to be racism and supported a "single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine." The decision has drawn criticism from Jewish groups and caused division within the party.

Chowns described the motion as "significant and damaging" and indicated her intention to work towards reforming the party's policy-making structures. She suggested that such a policy, approved by a small fraction of the party's membership, indicated a flaw in the process. "I don't know if there are extremists and racists in my party. But I want to make sure that my party isn't vulnerable to capture by extremists and racists," Chowns told the BBC. She characterized Zionism as a "contested concept" and asserted that the motion did not reflect the views of most Green Party members or the general public.

Former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas echoed concerns about the party's structures, suggesting they might not be adequately protecting it from "entryism," a phenomenon where individuals join a party with the intention of altering its direction. Lucas emphasized the need for the party to remain a "welcoming place for Jewish people."

The controversial motion, which passed with 1,022 votes in favor and 813 against at the Green's conference, defines Zionism as an ideology supporting "an ethnonationalist Jewish state." It also advocates for the establishment of a single democratic Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital, ensuring equal rights for all and the right of return for Palestinians and their descendants.

In response, the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council stated that "Zionism is anti-racism, creating a refuge for Jews in their ancient homeland after millennia of persecution outside it."

A spokesperson for the Green Party noted that members can propose and set policy, distinguishing it from other parties. "This is one motion alongside dozens of others that was discussed at our biggest-ever party conference. Every motion submitted to conference undergoes debate and no single interest group drives policy," the spokesperson said. Current leader Zack Polanski stated he would not have voted for the motion in its current form, calling it "imperfect," but agreed with the "substantial part of the motion" that stated the "displacement and genocide of the Palestinian people is clearly underpinned by a racist ideology."

Vivien Lichtenstein, leader of the Jewish Greens, called Polanski's performance in a recent by-election a "big mistake," partly due to his absence from the debate on the Zionism motion. Polanski had left the conference early to campaign for the by-election, which the Labour party won, with the Greens coming in second.