UK Green Party Adopts Resolution Labeling Zionism as Racism

The UK Green Party has adopted a resolution that frames Zionism as a form of racism, marking a significant shift in its political stance. The resolution, which passed with a majority of 1,022 votes to 813, represents the first time a major UK political party has officially defined itself as anti-Zionist. The decision was described as a rejection of the two-state solution and a call for the establishment of a single democratic Palestinian state “from the river to the sea,” with Jerusalem as its capital.

The resolution defines Zionism as a political ideology that seeks to establish a Jewish state based on ethnic nationalism, excluding non-Jewish populations. It also calls for the removal of the extremist group Palestine Action from the UK’s banned organizations list, support for the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS) movement, the release of Palestinian prisoners, and recognition of the “right to resistance.” These positions reflect a broader alignment with Palestinian advocacy groups and a rejection of Israeli policies.

Several members of the party’s parliamentary group, including former leader Caroline Lucas and deputy leader Rachel Millward, publicly opposed the resolution, calling it a “problem for the party.” In contrast, Deputy Leader Mutin Ali actively supported the decision. The party’s leader, Zack Polanski, a Jew, was absent from the official vote due to a local election campaign. He had previously advocated for amendments to soften the resolution’s language and protect Jewish members, but these efforts were ultimately rejected.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry condemned the resolution, calling it a betrayal of democratic values and a move that transforms the UK Greens into a “terror-supporting body” aligned with Hamas’s ideology. The ministry urged other UK parties, particularly the Labour Party, to distance themselves from the decision. Jewish organizations in Britain and Europe have also criticized the resolution, labeling it anti-Semitic and a revival of the discredited 1975 UN resolution that equated Zionism with racism, which was later repealed in 1991.

The resolution has sparked intense debate about the boundaries of political discourse, the definition of racism, and the rights of Jewish self-determination. Critics argue that equating Zionism with racism undermines the legitimacy of the Jewish state and the right of Jews to live securely in their homeland. Supporters, however, frame the decision as a necessary step toward justice and equality for Palestinians. The situation underscores the complex and often contentious nature of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in global political and religious discourse.

Source: Read the original report (translated from Hebrew)