World News
Green Party members vote to define Zionism as racism and back single Palestinian state
The policy passed at the Brighton conference despite internal opposition from MPs and warnings of legal risk.
The short version
- Members of the Green Party of England and Wales voted 1,022 to 813 to adopt a policy defining Zionism as racism and backing a single democratic Palestinian state.[BBC News · The Guardian]
- Senior figures were divided over the decision, with Green Party leader Zack Polanski supporting the premise while MPs including Carla Denyer, Adrian Ramsay, and Ellie Chowns opposed it.[BBC News · The Guardian]
- Israel's Foreign Ministry condemned the vote as exceeding legitimate political debate, while a legal expert warned the measure risks breaching the Equality Act 2010.[BBC News · The Guardian]
Key facts
- Green Party members adopted a motion declaring Zionism a form of racism by 1,022 votes to 813 at the party's conference in Brighton.[BBC News · The Guardian]
- The adopted motion calls for a single democratic Palestinian state in place of Israel.[BBC News · The Guardian]
- Green Party leader Zack Polanski stated that he believes Zionism, as defined in the motion, is racism.[BBC News · The Guardian]
- Three Green Party MPs, Ellie Chowns, Adrian Ramsay, and Carla Denyer, publicly opposed the motion.[BBC News]
- Israel's Foreign Ministry stated that the motion went beyond the boundaries of legitimate political debate and called it a stain on the history of the United Kingdom.[BBC News]
What remains uncertain
- Barrister Adam Wagner assessed there is a strong risk that the motion contravenes the Equality Act 2010 by discriminating against and harassing people holding Zionist beliefs and Jewish people more broadly.[The Guardian]
Sources
Outlet counts describe coverage, not independent confirmation. Reports may share a wire service or original source.
- Green Party members back 'Zionism is racism' motionBBC News - Top Stories
- Green party votes to adopt policy that equates Zionism with racismThe Guardian - World
- Israel lashes out as UK’s Green Party formally defines Zionism as ‘racism’Al Jazeera
- Head of Jewish Greens says she may leave party over ‘Zionism is racism’ voteThe Guardian - World
- Jewish Greens chair says she could leave party over 'Zionism is racism' motionBBC News - Top Stories
- Before UK Greens, who else has equated Zionism with racism?Al Jazeera
- Henry Zeffman: Tensions exposed among Greens by 'Zionism is racism' conference voteBBC News - Top Stories
- Green party of England and Wales facing international ostracism over ‘Zionism is racism’ voteThe Guardian - World
- I won't accept exclusion, says Polanski after criticism of Zionism motionBBC News - Top Stories
- Labour figures rule out working with Greens after ‘Zionism is racism’ voteThe Guardian - World
- Burnham calls on Polanski to reverse Green Party's Zionism motionBBC News - Top Stories
- Green member behind Zionism motion named as 'close friend' of jailed al-Qaeda supporter in courtBBC News - Top Stories
- Leader of Jewish Greens calls for Zack Polanski to resign after byelection lossThe Guardian - World
- Polanski vows to stay on as Green leader as criticism mountsBBC News - Top Stories
- UK Greens leader seeks rule change after party declares Zionism is racismAl Jazeera