Group Encourages Joining Green Party to Support ‘Zionism Is Racism’ Motion

Group encouraging people to join Green party to back ‘Zionism is racism’ agenda

A group advocating for the Green Party to equate Zionism with racism has urged individuals to join the party specifically to support that agenda. The group, known as Greens for Palestine (GfP), is not formally affiliated with the party but has been actively pushing for the motion to be debated at the party’s annual conference. The motion, which calls for a single Palestinian state, has sparked significant internal debate within the Green Party.

Some Green members have expressed concern that the party may be vulnerable to manipulation by extremist outsiders. The motion, which defines Zionism as racism, has raised fears among Jewish members about the potential difficulty of remaining in the party if the policy is adopted. This controversy highlights the broader debate over the definition of Zionism, a movement seen by its supporters as a necessary struggle for a Jewish homeland, and by critics as a colonial project that has led to the displacement of Palestinians.

Zack Polanski, the leader of the Green Party in England and Wales, has faced pressure to take a clear stance on the motion. The debate comes amid concerns that the controversy could harm the party in the upcoming Holborn and St Pancras byelection, where Polanski is running to win a seat previously held by Keir Starmer. The motion emerged as the top priority from a members’ ballot of policy issues to be discussed at the conference in Brighton.

The motion, if passed, would mean that members who support Zionism could face disciplinary action for racism. This has intensified calls for clarity and accountability within the party. The controversy reflects a longstanding debate about the nature of Zionism and its implications, with critics arguing that the term is often misused by antisemites to delegitimize Jewish identity and the state of Israel.

Efforts to push the policy have been led by Greens for Palestine, which has used social media to encourage supporters to join the Green Party specifically to get the motion debated and adopted. The group has links to activists who describe pro-Israel individuals as “infiltrators” who must be removed from the UK. This has raised questions about the motivations and influence of external groups within the party’s decision-making processes.

The debate over Zionism and its classification as racism continues to divide opinion, with supporters of the motion arguing that it aligns with principles of justice and equality, while critics warn of the risks of conflating political movements with racial ideologies. The Green Party faces a critical moment as it navigates these complex issues, balancing the need for inclusivity with the responsibility to uphold ethical and principled positions.

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