UK Green Party Labeled 'Racist' by Jewish Board of Deputies Over Anti-Zionist Stance

The Board of Deputies of British Jews, the largest Jewish group in the UK, has declared the Green Party of England and Wales a 'racist party' following a vote at its conference that passed a motion stating 'Zionism is racism'. The board voted overwhelmingly, 118 to one, to condemn the party's platform.

Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies, stated that by adopting an anti-Semitic platform, the Green Party has become racist and that the organization will treat it accordingly. He emphasized that no political party has the right to label a central aspect of Jewish identity as racist. Rosenberg added that the Green Party's policy effectively brands a significant portion of the Jewish community, including its synagogues and communal organizations, with a slur and grants prejudice against Jews a political license. He called for the Green Party's leadership to reverse the policy and confront the anti-Semitism it has legitimized.

The motion passed by the Green Party also urged other political parties not to form coalition deals with the Greens unless they disavow the anti-Zionist policy. The Board of Deputies suggested that entering into local or national coalitions with the Greens would demonstrate a failure to treat anti-Semitism with sufficient seriousness, unless the party's local leadership rejects the policy and commits to overturning it. The Labour Party has already issued an ultimatum to local Green groups it is currently in coalition with, demanding they disown the motion or lose Labour's support.

Rosenberg acknowledged and commended members within the Green Party who opposed the motion, including Jewish members whose warnings were disregarded. He urged democratic parties and civil society to apply the same standards to anti-Jewish racism as they would to any other form of racism.

In response, a spokesperson for the Green Party stated that the party does not discriminate against or exclude individuals for holding Zionist views. The spokesperson explained that the motion passed at their conference outlines political opposition to the ethnic cleansing and displacement of the Palestinian people. The party rejected the Board of Deputies' characterization of the motion and the party, asserting that it will not prevent them from speaking out against the situation in Gaza and advocating for stronger sanctions against the Israeli government and its leaders.