UK Green Party declares Zionism racism, deepening internal divide

The Green Party of England and Wales has approved a motion defining Zionism as a form of racism, passing with 1,022 votes to 813 at its annual conference in Brighton on October 4, 2026. The motion, proposed by party activists, describes Zionism as an ideology supporting "an ethnonationalist Jewish state" and calls for the establishment of "a single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine."

The decision has triggered sharp criticism from Jewish organizations and governments. The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council issued a joint statement characterizing the motion as "an attack on the Jewish community," arguing that "Zionism is anti-racism, creating a refuge for Jews in their ancient homeland after millennia of persecution." Israel's Foreign Ministry said the motion exceeded "the boundaries of legitimate political debate" and constituted "a stain on the history of the United Kingdom." Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar subsequently banned Green Party leader Zack Polanski from entering Israel in response. Israeli President Isaac Herzog called the decision a "disgrace" and reiterated that Zionism is the Jewish national liberation movement.

The vote has exposed significant divisions within the Green Party. Polanski, who is Jewish, did not attend the conference vote, having left early to campaign in the Holborn & St Pancras by-election. He had previously proposed amendments to remove the specific reference to a single Palestinian state and to add protections for Jewish members attending Zionist synagogues, but both amendments were rejected by party members. Deputy leaders remained split: Mothin Ali backed the motion while Rachel Millward described the wording as "problematic." Of the party's five MPs, at least three opposed the motion.

Vivien Lichtenstein, chair of Jewish Greens, told the BBC it is "quite possible" she will leave the party over the decision. She criticized the motion as unhelpful to Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank, questioned the lack of consultation with Jewish Greens, and expressed concern that the motion's broad language could be used to accuse Jewish and Israeli organizations of racism. The UK Labour Party, in government, also condemned the decision, with party chair Bridget Phillipson calling it "shameful."

The motion's passage follows a surge in Green Party membership under Polanski's leadership, which has drawn voters dissatisfied with the Labour government's stance on the Gaza conflict. The party spokesperson insisted that Jewish members would be protected and not persecuted for attending synagogues identifying as Zionist, and described the debate as "serious and far-reaching" internal discussion.