[REVISION HISTORY]

Green Party Zionism policy controversy and fallout

Updated 13 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-10-23 10:25 UTC → 2026-10-26 12:14 UTC · added ~~removed~~

Green Party Zionism policy controversy and ~~internal~~ fallout

The Green Party of England and Wales faces intensifying internal and external pressure following its decision to classify Zionism as a form of racism. The policy, passed at the Brighton conference by a ~~narrow~~ margin of ~~approximately 1,000~~ 1,022 to ~~800 votes,~~ 813, defines Zionism as an ~~ideology supporting an~~ ethno-nationalist ~~Jewish state to the exclusion or domination of the non-Jewish population. Internal criticism~~ ideology and advocates for a single democratic Palestinian state. International backlash has ~~intensified following the October 4 vote. MP Ellie Chowns~~ been severe. Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs described the ~~policy~~ motion as ~~“significant and damaging,” noting it passed by only 0.4% of the membership. She expressed concern~~ a “clear antisemitic text” that “goes far beyond the ~~party must not be “vulnerable to capture by extremists and racists,”~~ boundaries of legitimate political debate,” while ~~former~~ Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar reportedly barred leader ~~Caroline Lucas suggested~~ Zack Polanski from entering the ~~possibility~~ country. Domestically, the Board of ~~“entryism.”~~ Deputies of British Jews passed a motion declaring the Greens a “racist party,” urging other political groups to avoid coalition deals with them. The European Green Party has also distanced itself from the UK branch. Internal divisions have deepened. Four of the party’s five MPs expressed opposition, and Sandy Ruthven, chair of Amnesty International UK’s charitable trust, resigned in protest. Additionally, members rejected an amendment intended to protect Jewish members from discipline based on their affiliation with Zionist-identifying community centers. In response to the controversy and the ~~party’s~~ loss of the Holborn and St Pancras seat to ~~Labour in a recent by-election, leader Zack~~ Labour, Polanski has proposed ~~an overhaul of the party’s~~ overhauling democratic mechanisms to grant leadership ~~greater~~ more control over strategic direction. While Polanski stated he will not seek to amend the policy until at least 2028, ~~a stance that has drawn criticism from~~ senior ~~party official Hamza Egal, who demanded an official apology,~~ officials and ~~the Chair of the Jewish Greens, who called for Polanski’s resignation. Regional responses~~ regional leaders remain fractured. In Greenwich, local Greens stated they do not tolerate antisemitism but respect the conference decision, despite pressure from Labour. Conversely, in East Hertfordshire, Green leader Ben Crystall distanced himself fractured, with some calling for his resignation and others distancing themselves from the ~~motion, describing it as a failure that does not help address Middle East conflicts.~~ motion.

Versions

Only revisions since CLSTR began indexing content versions appear here. Select a version to see what changed compared to the one before it.