Israel Condemns Green Party Motion in Brighton, UK, Defining Zionism as Racism

At its annual conference in Brighton, the Green Party of England and Wales faced sharp criticism over a motion that defines Zionism as a form of racism. Party leader Zack Polanski addressed the conference on 2 October 2026, according to Middle East Eye, and said it was not shameful for the party to have adopted such a motion. He argued instead that it was shameful that no mainstream British party before the Greens had recognized the realities of Israel’s actions. The same report states that Britain has been complicit in Israel’s actions in Gaza for three years.

Reports differ on when the vote took place. Middle East Eye dates Polanski’s address to 2 October, while Al-Araby and The Guardian place the conference and the passing of the resolution on 3 October 2026. The motion, as described in the reports, defines Zionism as racist and calls for a single democratic state on all of historic Palestine. The BBC describes Zionism in the motion as an ideology supporting an ethnonationalist Jewish state, and it says the motion advocates a single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine.

Israel’s Foreign Ministry responded sharply. According to Al-Araby, the ministry accused the Green Party of becoming a body supportive of terrorism. It also alleged that the party had adopted the “green” of Hamas, a reference to the group’s call for Israel’s elimination through armed struggle. These are the ministry’s accusations as reported; the source does not describe the party’s response to them.

Criticism also came from within Britain. In a letter published by The Guardian, Simon Lawson, a non-religious Jewish Londoner, wrote that he was deeply disappointed with the decision. He argued that the motion risks alienating British Jews and others who advocate for peace and reconciliation (Matthew 5:9).

Polanski responded to the criticism by saying he will not allow anyone to be excluded from the Green Party on the basis of their religious or communal background. The BBC reports that he made this statement after criticism of the motion.

The BBC also reports that Polanski did not take part in the vote on the motion and has expressed concerns about its implications.