Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali in London's Holborn and St Pancras election claims that voters are concerned about a recent Green Party motion defining Zionism as an ethnonationalist ideology. The motion has divided both the Green Party leadership and its MPs, with some supporting it while others criticize it for being divisive and potentially undermining support among Jewish voters who advocate for a two-state solution in Israel-Palestine. Jewish groups and Israeli officials have condemned the motion, accusing it of fostering antisemitism, while Green Party leaders argue that their stance supports both Palestinian and Jewish rights universally.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-05,
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Story summary
Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali in Holborn and St Pancras expressed concern over a divisive Green Party motion regarding Zionism that was passed at their recent conference. The motion defines Zionism as supporting "an ethnonationalist Jewish state" and endorses a "single democratic Palestinian state," which Abdi-Wali says is worrying for those who support a two-state solution. This issue has become a topic of discussion among local voters, with some expressing worry about the motion at school gates during campaigning. The Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who is also running in the area, abstained from voting on the motion while campaigning in Holborn and St Pancras to challenge Labour's strong majority in the seat vacated by former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
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Holborn and St Pancras voters 'worried about divisive Green Party Zionism motion', says Labour candidate
Sagal Abdi-Wali, who is going head-to-head with Green Party leader Zack Polanski in the crucial north London poll on Thursday, said the proposal was “worrying for anyone who believes in a two-state solution”.
asserted
who → say → solution
He did not take part in the vote at his party’s conference in Brighton because he was campaigning in Holborn and St Pancras, where he is hoping to overturn a large Labour majority in the seat vacated by ex prime minister Sir Keir Starmer.
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he → take → Starmer
Ms Abdi-Wali told the Standard: “It has been brought up to me by people literally at the school gates this morning, of how like divisive they found that motion and how worried they are by it.
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they → tell → it
“I think it's worrying for anyone who believes in a two-state solution.
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who → think → solution
“The message from residents has been quite insightful in their response to, to what's happened there.”
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what → happen → response
Members endorsed the policy, which defines Zionism as an ideology supporting "an ethnonationalist Jewish state" and backs a "single democratic Palestinian state".
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which → endorse → state
The fifth, Hannah Spencer, did not stated her view.
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fifth → state → view
In an Instagram post following the vote she said: “I’m proud to be part of a party committed to Jewish rights, and Palestinian rights.”
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I → follow → rights
Mr Polanski did not take part in the vote, which also divided his deputies.
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which → take → deputies
Deputy leader Rachel Millward called the motion “problematic” suggesting she would not vote for it.
But her co-deputy, Mothin Ali, said he did support the move and would vote in favour of it.
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he → call → it
In a joint statement following the vote, the five elected Green MPs said: “As Green Party leaders and MPs, we will always uphold universal human rights.
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we → follow → rights
We will never tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment.
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We → tolerate → discrimination
We will continue to stand in opposition to genocide, ethnic cleansing, apartheid and the illegal occupation.
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We → continue → genocide
"We will continue to call out the heinous crimes of the Netanyahu government.
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We → continue → government
And we will continue to work to ensure that the Green Party is an anti-racist party in every way.
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Party → continue → way
We know there is no conflict between supporting the rights of Palestinians and the rights of Jewish people."
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We → know → people
Jewish groups condemned the motion.
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groups → condemn → motion
“Zionism is anti-racism, creating a refuge for Jews in their ancient homeland after millennia of persecution outside it," the Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council said.
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Board → create → Jews
“Branding most British Jews and Jewish institutions 'racist' stokes anti-Jewish hatred after a year in which British Jews have been murdered attending their synagogue, stabbed in the streets, and seen their community buildings firebombed.”
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buildings → brand → streets
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
In a statement on Sunday evening, Israel’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Greens’ resolution “constitutes a clear antisemitic text according to the IHRA definition, as it denies the Jewish people’s right to self-determination”.
uncertain
it → say → determination
“Therefore, as a first step, foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar has decided this evening to declare Green Party leader Zack Polanski barred from entering Israel.”
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Polanski → decide → Israel
The Aporia
