Scottish National Party (SNP) leader John Swinney is facing increasing pressure to exclude the Scottish Greens from the upcoming SNP conference and to issue an unequivocal condemnation of their recent resolution labeling 'Zionism is racism'. The controversy stems from comments made by Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer, who endorsed the motion passed by the English and Welsh Green Party, which characterized Zionism—the movement for the establishment of a Jewish state in the Middle East—as a form of racism. Greer also described the creation of Israel as an 'act of racism'.
Further fueling the controversy, Green MSP Ariane Burgess reportedly 'liked' a social media image that the Jewish Council of Scotland described as 'grotesque and anti-Semitic,' depicting the Israeli flag with a swastika and blood. Burgess later stated that the action was an 'error'.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay urged Swinney to make a clear choice between legitimizing the Greens' stance or barring them from the SNP conference. "Swinney has been urged to cancel plans for Gillian MacKay to speak at the SNP conference after Ross Greer backed 'Zionism is racism' motion," Findlay stated, adding that Swinney should demonstrate respect for Scotland's Jewish community by not providing a platform to the Greens. He criticized Swinney for perceived pro-Palestine posturing that he believes harms the Jewish community, and for bringing the Greens into government.
Alex Neil, a former SNP Health Secretary, also called for Swinney to be more explicit in dissociating the SNP from the Greens' position. While acknowledging the need to criticize Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's actions in Gaza, Neil stressed that supporting the existence of Israel should not be equated with racism. He argued that modern states, including Israel and a future Palestinian state, should be founded on the needs of people and the pursuit of peace, not on racism.
During a recent First Minister's Questions, Swinney stated that he did not agree with the Green Party conference's conclusions on Zionism but stopped short of labeling their position as anti-Semitic or racist. Neil believes Swinney needs to be more direct in clarifying that supporting Zionism does not inherently make one a racist. He also questioned the decision to invite the Greens to the SNP conference over other representatives of the independence movement.
Ross Greer has maintained his position, asserting that modern Zionism and the establishment of Israel involved ethnic cleansing and massacres, which he described as historical facts. He stated that the Scottish Greens oppose any system of racial discrimination and suggested that the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's working definition of anti-Semitism has been misused against those highlighting Palestinian displacement.
An SNP spokesperson confirmed that the First Minister has made his disagreement with the Green conference motion clear.