Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party, has responded to criticism following his party’s controversial vote declaring Zionism as a form of racism at their conference in Brighton. With more than a dozen Labour MPs and nine Labour MPs referring the Greens to the equality watchdog and police respectively, Polanski emphasized that no one will be excluded from the party based on religious or communal affiliation. The motion passed by 1,022 votes to 813 has led to internal divisions within the Green Party between its new members and elected MPs, with Polanski personally distancing himself from the vote results while reaffirming his commitment to values of equality for all.
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
On October 8th, Green Party members in Brighton voted to adopt a motion declaring Zionism as "racist," passing it with 1,022 votes to 813. The controversial policy, pushed by Greens for Palestine, equates Zionism—the movement advocating for a Jewish state—with racism and calls for the establishment of a single democratic Palestinian State encompassing all of historic Palestine, including Jerusalem as its capital. This decision came despite opposition from several senior party figures, including former leaders Caroline Lucas, Adrian Ramsay, and Carla Denyer, who warned it would alienate Jews in the party.
The motion, which defines Zionism as an ideology supporting "an ethnonationalist Jewish state," was met with alarm from Jewish groups like the Board of Deputies, Community Security Trust, and Jewish Leadership Council. These organizations issued a letter to Green Party leaders expressing concerns over potential antisemitic implications for British Jews and the party's safety and welfare.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski missed the vote due to campaigning in a by-election but stated that the debate was deeply felt among members. The party asserts its commitment to anti-racism, equality, justice, and human rights for all while opposing illegal occupation of Palestinian land and advocating an end to arms sales to Israel.
Despite this assertion, critics argue the policy could make it impossible for practicing Jews or members of synagogues across Britain who consider themselves Zionist to join the party. The vote also saw amendments aimed at protecting Jewish members from disciplinary action based on their affiliations with community institutions rejected. Overall, the decision has deepened divisions within the Green Party and raised concerns about its electoral viability and inclusivity.
Written for “Green Party Zionism Policy Controversy” on 2026-10-05,
grounded in this article and the 32 other(s) covering the same event.
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- Published
Zack Polanski has said he will not accept anyone being excluded from the Green Party "because of the religious or communal body they are part of", after members adopted a motion declaring Zionism a form of racism.
asserted
Zionism → publish → racism
The Green leader said "no-one will be made unwelcome because of their background, their faith, or where they worship".
asserted
they → say → background
The motion defines Zionism as an ideology supporting "an ethnonationalist Jewish state" and backs a "single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine".
asserted
motion → define → Palestine
It comes after more than a dozen Labour MPs reported the Greens to the equality watchdog on Monday, saying it raised "serious questions".
asserted
it → come → questions
Nine Labour MPs have also referred the Green Party to Sussex Police, asking the force to investigate whether alleged "possible antisemitic offences" at the conference merit a criminal investigation.
asserted
offences → refer → investigation
Sussex Police and the Green Party have been contacted for comment.
asserted
Police → contact → comment
It is the latest development in a backlash to the policy motion, which was put forward by a group of activists at the party's conference in Brighton and endorsed by 1,022 votes to 813.
asserted
which → put → 813
"The real, material, manifestation of Zionism has been the historic and ongoing dehumanisation, displacement, dispossession, disenfranchisement and destruction of Palestinians," it said.
asserted
it → say → Palestinians
The motion has exposed divisions between the party's newly enlarged membership base under leader Zack Polanski and its MPs elected at the last general election.
asserted
motion → expose → election
Polanski did not take part in the vote on Sunday and four of the party's five MPs opposed it.
asserted
four → take → it
Israel's foreign ministry responded by banning Polanski from entering the country, while some Jewish groups have described it as an "attack on the Jewish community".
asserted
groups → respond → community
In his first comments since the motion was passed, having declined interviews on Monday, Polanski released a lengthy statement saying he "take[s] seriously my responsibility to make sure everyone feels safe and welcome in our party".
asserted
everyone → pass → party
He added: "As leader I will not accept any exclusion, or refusal to engage with anyone, because of the religious or communal body they are part of."
asserted
they → add → body
He said his party and its leadership stood for "deeply held values of compassion, fairness and equality for all".
asserted
party → say → all
Polanski, who is Jewish, added that "antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli state are, and must always be, completely distinct".
asserted
antisemitism → add → state
European Greens distance themselves
On Monday, a group of Labour MPs wrote two letters to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) - organised by former Home Office minister Mike Tapp - raising concerns about the motion, and amendments to protect Jewish members attending Zionist synagogues being voted down.
asserted
group → distance → synagogues
"Taken together, these developments raise serious questions about whether Jewish members can participate freely and equally in the party, and whether their religious and communal connections could expose them to complaints or disciplinary action," their letter to the watchdog said.
uncertain
letter → take → watchdog
The EHRC, which regulates equality law in Great Britain, previously found failings in how Labour handled antisemitism.
asserted
Labour → regulate → antisemitism
In a statement following the letter, the EHRC told the BBC it would "consider each complaint carefully" and had not at this stage launched an investigation.
asserted
it → follow → investigation
It added: "We have guidance advising political parties on their responsibilities under the Equality Act 2010.
asserted
We → add → Act
Like all duty-bearers, political parties must comply with the Act and take steps to avoid discrimination."
asserted
parties → comply → discrimination
The European Green Party, of which the Green Party for England and Wales is a member, released a statement on Monday saying it wanted to "unequivocally distance" itself from the motion.
asserted
it → release → motion
The umbrella body said it would "immediately demand clarity" from the party's leadership on how they would protect Jewish people and self-determination.
asserted
they → say → people
Meanwhile, Green MP Ellie Chowns told Radio 4's PM programme she was "deeply saddened" the motion had become party policy but disagreed it was antisemitic, saying it was underpinned by "principled opposition to the actions of the Israeli government".
asserted
it → tell → government
She suggested a review of Green policymaking processes was needed since "less than 1%" of the party's more than 200,000 members had participated in the vote.
uncertain
% → suggest → vote
The Aporia
