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

The Green Party's autumn conference in Brighton is set to become a critical juncture for party leader Zack Polanski, as a divisive motion labeled "Zionism is Racism" gains traction among a newly energized hard-left membership. This activist-led motion, which argues that support for Zionism should be treated as a form of racism, poses a significant challenge to Polanski, the only Jewish leader of a major UK political party.

Polanski, who became leader just over a year ago, has been credited with energizing the Green Party, leading it to electoral gains including a by-election victory and council control. He is also poised to contest a parliamentary seat in Keir Starmer's former constituency.

However, the influx of new, hard-left members has intensified scrutiny of Polanski's stance on Israel. Despite Polanski describing Israel's response to the October 7 attacks as "genocide," concerns have been raised by some party members that he is not sufficiently critical of Zionism, with one leaked message suggesting he cannot detach himself from his Jewish background or "Zionist indoctrination."

The "Zionism is Racism" motion, which failed to be heard at the party's spring conference, has returned with increased support. Backers, including individuals who have allegedly spread anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, have ensured it will be debated. If passed, the motion would classify support for Zionism – the belief in a Jewish state in its ancestral homeland – as racism. Critics argue this would create an impossible situation for Jewish members and effectively support groups like Hamas by demanding support for Palestinian "resistance" by "all available means, including armed struggle."

Lubna Speitan, a British-Palestinian artist who admits to joining the party specifically to advance this agenda, is proposing the motion. She has collaborated with figures like Dr. Shola Mos-Shogbamimu, who has promoted conspiracy theories about the October 7 attacks and is associated with the Anti Zionist Movement, a group run by controversial figures.

In response to the motion's inflammatory nature, some long-standing party members have proposed an alternative, "Building a Consensus for Palestinian Liberation," which acknowledges Israel as a "genocidal country" but advocates for peaceful resistance. However, even this has been met with extreme amendments from the pro-Palestine faction, suggesting anyone identifying as Zionist should be reported to the government's counter-extremism program, Prevent, and that relocating to Israel constitutes incitement to ethnic cleansing.

Former deputy leader Shahrar Ali has been critical of Polanski, stating that by aligning with the hard-left and Islamists, he has created a "monster" that now threatens to unseat him. Ali argues that Polanski has failed to acknowledge his role in fostering this environment and is now caught between factions.

Polanski's own nuanced position has drawn criticism. When asked directly about Zionism, he has equivocated, stating it means different things to different people. However, he has also stated that if Zionism is defined as "displacement genocide, which in practice Zionism has become, then that is racism." This statement was welcomed by some pro-Palestine groups but is unlikely to satisfy the purist demands of the "Zionism is Racism" proponents.

Concerns have been raised by Jewish members about the aggressive tactics of newer members, particularly regarding their focus on the Palestinian issue and their intolerance of differing viewpoints. Some fear that if Polanski fails to navigate this internal conflict, a candidate like Mothin Ali, who has voiced strong support for Gaza and the motion, could ascend within the party. The upcoming conference is seen as an "existential moment" for Polanski, potentially determining his leadership and the future direction of the Green Party.