The Green Party has passed a motion declaring Zionism to be racist and to be treated as such. The vote, which occurred on the final day of the party's conference, passed with 1,022 votes in favor and 813 against. Following the vote, the party stated that the motion would be implemented by its anti-racism policy working group.
Critics argue that this decision effectively bans the vast majority of Britain's Jewish population from party membership. Zionism, defined as the belief in the Jewish people's right to self-determination in their historic homeland, is central to Jewish identity for many. The Green Party's new policy means that individuals who support Zionism, which includes most members of synagogues and Jewish organizations, may be barred from joining.
The motion's proponents suggest it is a stance against racism, but opponents, including writer Stephen Pollard, contend it is a thinly veiled form of antisemitism. Pollard stated that labeling Zionism as racist implicitly labels Jews worldwide as racist, given Israel's significance as a spiritual home. He contrasted this with legitimate criticism of Israeli policy, asserting that singling out the right to self-determination for Jewish people is a uniquely immoral and illegitimate act.
The party's deputy leader, Mothin Ali, has drawn controversy for past statements, including crying 'Allahu Akbar' upon election and referring to 'white supremacist European settler colonialism' following the October 7th attacks. A group called Greens For Palestine, which advocated for the motion, has published materials supporting the resolution and the right to 'armed' Palestinian resistance.
This development occurs against a backdrop of past concerns about antisemitism within left-wing politics, with comparisons drawn to the period under former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. The Green Party, which holds around 10 percent in recent polls and controls local councils, is seen by some as potentially influential in future elections. The Green Party's decision has been met with criticism from those who view it as embedding antisemitism into the party's core principles.