Israel has banned Zack Polanski, leader of Britain's Green Party, from entering the country following a controversial vote at the party’s conference in Brighton where members defined Zionism as racist. The Israeli foreign ministry described the party’s stance as giving "legitimacy to terrorism" and labeled it a "stain on Britain's history." This decision has caused internal rifts within the Green Party, with some MPs and former leaders disagreeing with the new position.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-04,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
Green party members voted to adopt a policy equating Zionism with racism at the party's annual conference in Brighton. The motion passed by 1,022 votes to 813 and declares the Greens an "anti-Zionist party." It also supports establishing a single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital.
The policy defines Zionism as an ideology supporting an ethnonationalist Jewish State and argues that it privileges one ethnic group, inherently making it racist. The motion has drawn criticism from some Jewish groups, including the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council, who warned about implications for the safety and welfare of British Jews.
Party leader Zack Polanski missed the vote to campaign in Holborn and St Pancras, where he is standing in a parliamentary by-election. Several senior figures within the party, like former leaders Sian Berry, Adrian Ramsay, and Carla Denyer, were critical of the proposal.
Supporters of the motion argue it aims to highlight racism inherent in Zionism but does not imply disciplinary action against Jewish members or those attending synagogues that consider themselves Zionist. However, critics worry this could discourage practicing Jews from joining the party.
The Green Party's stance on supporting a single Palestinian state and equating Zionism with racism has divided senior figures within the party, such as deputy leaders Mothin Ali and Rachel Millward. The policy remains official for the Greens in England and Wales despite amendments to ensure it does not pressure or discipline members based on their affiliation with Jewish institutions being rejected.
Written for “Green Party Zionism Policy Controversy” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 17 other(s) covering the same event.
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The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.65, but 1 quote(s) could not be found in the article and the other 1 are attributed speech rather than the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
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Leaning score withheld for article 56222: no verified evidence · logged 2026-10-04
Israel has banned Zack Polanski from entering the country after Green Party members voted to define Zionism as racist.
asserted
members → ban → racist
The party was accused by Israel of giving 'legitimacy to terrorism' after a majority on Sunday agreed with the motion to formally adopt a position against Zionism at the party's conference in Brighton.
asserted
majority → accuse → Brighton
Israel's foreign ministry described the move as a 'stain' on Britain's history and barred Mr Polanski from visiting the nation.
asserted
ministry → describe → nation
In an update today it said: 'As a first step, foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar has decided this evening to declare Green Party leader Zack Polanski barred from entering Israel.'
asserted
Polanski → say → Israel
During the party conference they also rejected a clause that would have prevented the motion being used to 'pressure, proscribe or discipline' party members for their affiliation to Zionist synagogues or other Jewish groups.
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motion → reject → synagogues
The 'twisted' resolution to oppose a Jewish state and support the establishment of a Palestinian one has already caused a rift within the party.
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resolution → oppose → party
Leader Zack Polanski, who was not present at the vote, snubbed the outcome and the Greens' five MPs issued a statement disowning the party's new stance.
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MPs → snub → stance
Its former leaders also expressed their shock that the Greens had become the UK's 'first openly anti-Semitic party'.
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Greens → express → shock
Green Party leader Zack Polanski speaks at a Green Party campaign event in Kings Cross, London
Mr Polanski delivers his keynote speech at the Green Party annual conference in Brighton on October 2
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Polanski → speak → October
In an earlier condemnation of the vote, Israel's foreign ministry said: 'The Green Party in Britain ceased to act as a political party and became a body that gives legitimacy to terrorism.
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that → say → terrorism
The Greens have adopted not only the green of Hamas, but also its ideology – the elimination of the State of Israel through armed struggle.
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Greens → adopt → struggle
This goes far beyond the boundaries of legitimate political debate.
asserted
This → go → debate
As long as this resolution remains in place, it will stand as a stain on the history of the UK.
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it → remain → UK
Every political party in Britain, first and foremost the governing Labour Party, must unequivocally reject this twisted resolution.'
In a statement with Green MPs and his deputies, Mr Polanski said there is 'no conflict between supporting the rights of Palestinians and the rights of Jewish people'.
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Polanski → govern → people
Former Greens co-leader Carla Denyer last night said the resolution risked 'alienating a significant proportion of Jewish people', including those who 'vehemently disagree' with Israel.
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who → say → Israel
Her co-leader, Adrian Ramsay, and Caroline Lucas, the party's first MP, also voiced opposition.
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leader → voice → opposition
And ex-deputy leader Shahrar Ali told the Daily Mail: 'I am deeply ashamed.
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I → tell → Mail
Making Zionism is Racism our official party policy has made us the first openly anti-Semitic party in the UK.'
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us → make → UK
Deputy leader Rachel Millward and Motheen Ali pictured applauding at the Green Party conference
The motion, revealed by the Daily Mail, declares that the party is 'opposed' to Zionism – a movement supporting a Jewish state in Israel.
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party → picture → Israel
And it effectively calls for Israel to be replaced by a 'single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine, with Jerusalem as its capital'.
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Jerusalem → call → capital
It passed after 1,022 voted in favour, with 813 voting against.
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813 → pass → favour
Mr Polanski instead spent Sunday campaigning in Holborn and St Pancras ahead of Thursday's by-election.
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Polanski → spend → election
One Jewish Green member said many may now quit the party.
uncertain
many → say → party
It comes after a 'safe room' was set up for Jewish Greens in Brighton.
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room → come → Brighton
The Daily Mail can also reveal two members had their passes revoked – a Zionist after silently protesting in a Palestine fringe meeting, and the other, a Jewish Green, for filming it.
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passes → reveal → it
Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp said: 'One look beneath the surface of Zack Polanski's Green Party shows a party toxic to its core.'
And Labour chairman Bridget Phillipson said the policy was 'shameful'.
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policy → say → core
There are suggestions the motion could breach the Equality Act, with Adam Wagner KC writing on LinkedIn last night that it may 'discriminate against' Jews.
uncertain
it → be → Jews
Campaign Against Antisemitism claimed the policy was 'racism in its clearest form'.
asserted
policy → claim → form
And Luciana Berger, who quit Labour in 2019 after stating it was 'institutionally anti-Semitic' under Jeremy Corbyn, said the Greens 'should be shunned'.
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Greens → quit → Corbyn
A Green Party spokesman said it opposes 'racism in all its forms'.
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it → say → forms
The Aporia
