Zack Polanski's allies are trying to salvage his position as Green Party leader amid severe criticism following an anti-Semitism controversy at the party’s annual conference. The conference passed a motion declaring Zionism as racism and calling for Israel's destruction, which has faced backlash from Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis among others. Polanski is also facing accusations of political cowardice for skipping the vote on this motion to campaign in an upcoming Holborn by-election where he is expected to lose to Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
At the Green Party's annual conference in Brighton, members voted 1022 to 813 to adopt a motion equating Zionism with racism. The motion, pushed by Greens for Palestine, defines Zionism as an ideology supporting "an ethnonationalist Jewish State" and calls for a single democratic Palestinian state encompassing all of historic Palestine. Former party leaders like Caroline Lucas criticized the divisive nature of this policy, warning it could alienate Jews within the Green Party. Despite these concerns, current leader Zack Polanski skipped the vote to campaign in a by-election, while some Jewish organizations expressed alarm over what they see as an overtly anti-Semitic stance. The adopted motion also states that Zionism should be treated "as any other form of racism," raising further debate about its implications for Jewish members and the party's commitment to equality and human rights. Despite opposition from within, the policy now stands as formal Green Party doctrine in England and Wales.
Written for “Green Party Zionism Policy” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 26 other(s) covering the same event.
Allies of Zack Polanski are desperately rallying around the embattled Green Party leader today amid a major anti-Semitism row and questions over his future in the role.
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Allies → rally → role
Mr Polanski is under huge pressure after Green members passed a 'Zionism is Racism' policy at its annual conference that effectively calls for the destruction of Israel.
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that → pass → Israel
Chief rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis became the latest critic today, saying the motion was a 'threat to British Jews and to Britain'.
Mr Polanski - who was last night barred from entering Israel - desperately tried to row back by joining criticism of the motion levelled by the party's five MPs, but is facing growing anger at his lack of leadership.
He faced accusations of political cowardice after astonishingly choosing to skip the vote in Brighton and instead campaign in Holborn and St Pancras ahead of the by-election he is standing in next week.
He is expected to lose to Labour's Sagal Abdi-Wali in Holborn but allies today tried to set him a low bar for 'victory' in the contest.
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allies → become → contest
Political commentator Aaron Bastani said Mr Polanski was the victim of a 'choreographed effort' to get him to resign after Thursday's vote.
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him → say → vote
'If the Greens get within 3,000 votes of Labour, in middle of Burnham bump - in the seat where (Keir) Starmer, (Peter) Mandelson and (Alastair) Campbell live - then it's clear they're here to stay,' he said.
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he → get → seat
Former Labour MP Zarah Sultana, now a member of the hard Left Your party, wrote on X: 'Reminder: anti-Zionism is not anti-Semitism.
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Zionism → write → Reminder
The smears won't work.'
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smears → work → ?
Mr Polanski is under huge pressure after Green members passed a 'Zionism is Racism' policy at its annual conference that effectively calls for the destruction of Israel
He faced accusations of political cowardice after astonishingly choosing to skip the vote in Brighton and instead campaign in Holborn and St Pancras ahead of the by-election he is standing in next week
Chief rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis became the latest critic today, saying the motion was a 'threat to British Jews and to Britain'
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motion → pass → Britain
His failure to stand-up to hardline Palestine activists in his party may also have killed off a route into government as part of a 'rainbow coalition' of centre-left parties.
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failure → stand → parties
Last week Andy Burnham's said he wanted to change the UK's electoral system to a proportional representation system that could make coalitions more likely.
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coalitions → say → system
Fears have been raised that he could lead a government that could include Green MPs.
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that → raise → MPs
But Paul Ovenden, a former aide to Keir Starmer, wrote on X: 'Last week, the Green Party were offered the biggest opportunity they've ever had, in the shape of electoral reform.
'
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they → write → reform
Today, they've made it impossible for them to be accommodated in any administration.'
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them → make → administration
Members in Brighton backed the motion with 1,022 votes in favour and 813 against.
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Members → back → favour
It declares the Greens to be an 'anti-Zionist party' and sets into its policy that Zionism, the movement to develop and protect a Jewish state in Israel, will be 'treated as any other form of racism'.
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Zionism → declare → racism
It also supports the establishment of a 'single democratic Palestinian State in all of historic Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital'.
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Jerusalem → support → capital
Supporters chanted 'say it loud, say it clear, Zionists are not welcome here' as the campaigners behind the motion, Greens for Palestine, gathered to speak to the media.
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campaigners → chant → media
Sir Ephraim said he was 'appalled' by the motion, claiming the Green Party had resurrected a 'discredited and dangerous slander' first promoted by the Soviet Union.
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Party → say → Union
'All decent people will see this for what it is: poisonous antisemitism, a threat to British Jews and to Britain,' he said.
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he → see → Britain
Israel accused the Green Party of legitimising 'the destruction of the State of Israel' with a 'clear antisemitic text'.
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Israel → accuse → text
Foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar declared that Mr Polanski was now barred from entering Israel.
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Polanski → declare → Israel
'Today, the Green Party in Britain adopted a resolution equating Zionism with racism, legitimising armed struggle against Israel, and calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state 'from the river to the sea' – meaning the destruction of the State of Israel,' the Israeli foreign ministry said.
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ministry → adopt → Israel
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 → say → people
The Aporia
