UK's Green Party Declared 'Racist' by Jewish Board of Deputies Over Anti-Zionist Policy

The Board of Deputies of British Jews, the largest Jewish group in Britain, has formally declared the Green Party of England and Wales a "racist party." This designation follows a controversial vote by party members in favor of a motion stating that "Zionism is racism."

In a motion passed overwhelmingly by 118 votes to one, the Jewish organization stated that by adopting an antisemitic platform, the Green Party has become a racist party and pledged to "treat it accordingly." Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies, criticized the policy, asserting that no political party has the right to label a central aspect of Jewish identity as racist. He added that the Green Party's policy "brands much of our community, including our synagogues and communal organizations, with that slur" and "gives prejudice against Jews a political license."

Rosenberg urged the Green Party's leadership to reverse the policy and confront the antisemitism it has legitimized. The Board of Deputies also recommended that other political parties refrain from forming coalition deals with the Greens at local or national levels unless the party's leadership explicitly rejects the "Zionism is racism" policy and commits to overturning it.

Labour has already issued an ultimatum to local Green groups it is currently collaborating with, stating that they must disown the motion or lose the party's support. Rosenberg commended those within the Green Party, including Jewish members, who opposed the motion, stating they "deserve to be heard and supported."

However, a spokesperson for the Green Party insisted that the party does not discriminate against individuals holding Zionist views. The spokesperson stated that the motion passed at their conference outlines a political opposition to the ethnic cleansing and displacement of the Palestinian people. The party rejects the Board of Deputies' characterization and affirmed its commitment to speaking out against the conflict in Gaza and advocating for stronger sanctions against the Israeli government and its leaders.