UK Green Party Faces Internal Division Over 'Zionism is Racism' Motion
A controversial motion equating Zionism with racism has deeply divided the UK Green Party, with some leaders warning it could alienate Jewish members and undermine support for Palestinian rights.
The UK Green Party is experiencing a significant internal conflict over a proposed motion that labels Zionism as racism and calls for broad boycotts and sanctions against Israel, drawing parallels to apartheid South Africa. The motion advocates for a single democratic Palestinian state in historic Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital.
Deputy co-leader Mothin Ali has declared his intention to vote for the motion, stating that the "ultimate form of racism is genocide." He linked Zionism to the ongoing Israeli actions in Gaza, which have resulted in a high death toll. "Anyone that believes in genociding people just so they can live free, that is racism," Ali told Sky News.
However, the party's leader, Zack Polanski, plans to abstain from the vote, emphasizing that the party is "absolutely united" regarding Gaza. Polanski has called for an amendment to the motion, seeking a vision of equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians, and stated that the party should not dictate the future settlement. He affirmed that "Both Israelis have a right to exist. Palestinians have a right to exist."
Several former leaders have also voiced opposition. Caroline Lucas, the Green Party's first MP, warned that the motion carries "a real risk that it will be divisive and could be seen as a sign that Jewish people aren't welcome in the party." Adrian Ramsay, a former co-leader, shared similar concerns about the motion's divisiveness.
Carla Denyer, another former leader, stated she would not support a plan that could "set us back" in advocating for Palestinians. She added that the motion risks "alienating a significant proportion of Jewish people, including those who vehemently disagree with the Israeli government; support boycott, divestment and sanctions, and are strong advocates for Palestinian rights."
The motion defines Zionism as support for "an ethnonationalist Jewish State" and states that it "will be treated as any other form of racism" by the party. Zionism is historically understood as a movement for the establishment of a Jewish homeland, and currently supports the state of Israel.
Green peer Jenny Jones, who is set to chair the party conference session where the vote will occur, acknowledged the potential for heated debate. "It's going to be a long session. It could be quite, you know, argumentative," she said, adding that decisions often emerge from grassroots members who may hold more radical views than the leadership. "But we have to listen."