Zack Polanski, leader of the British Green Party, issued a statement addressing the controversy over his party’s recent policy labeling Zionism as racism. The motion passed by the party's conference has drawn strong criticism from Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis and sparked retaliation from Israel, which banned Polanski from entering the country. In response, Polanski emphasized that fighting for Palestinian rights should not be conflated with antisemitism and committed to ensuring everyone feels safe within the Green Party. The motion passed in Brighton with 1,022 votes in favor and 813 against, supporting the establishment of a single democratic state in all of historic Palestine.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-06,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
At its annual conference in Brighton, the Green Party members voted 1022 to 813 to adopt a motion declaring Zionism a form of racism. The policy motion was proposed by Greens for Palestine and calls for the establishment of a single democratic Palestinian state encompassing all of historic Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital. It defines Zionism as an ideology supporting "an ethnonationalist Jewish State" and argues that it inherently privileges one ethnic group over others, thereby equating it to racism.
The motion has sparked intense debate within the party, with former leaders Caroline Lucas, Adrian Ramsay, and Carla Denyer warning against its divisive impact. Current leader Zack Polanski missed the vote due to campaigning in a by-election but his stance on the issue is unclear. Deputy leader Mothin Ali supported the motion while Rachel Millward described it as problematic.
Critics of the policy argue that labeling Zionism as racism could alienate Jewish members and align the party with antisemitic views, which has raised concerns among Jewish community leaders. The Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council issued a letter to Green Party leaders expressing their apprehensions before the vote.
Despite the criticism, a Green Party spokesperson maintained that the decision reflects the party's commitment to human rights and opposition to racism in all forms, emphasizing that it remains opposed to the illegal occupation of Palestinian land. The adoption of this policy has polarized the party and raised questions about its future electoral prospects and internal cohesion.
Written for “Green Party Zionism Policy Controversy” on 2026-10-06,
grounded in this article and the 34 other(s) covering the same event.
Why this leaning score
The model judged this article politically coded and scored it +0.35, but all 2 of its quote(s) are attributed speech - words the article quotes from someone, not the article's own narration, so the score is not published.
Written under an earlier scoring contract, which gave a paragraph
rather than checkable quotes. Re-analysing this article replaces it.
Leaning score withheld for article 59353: attributed speech only · logged 2026-10-06
Party leader Mr Polanski said a movement for justice must “protect both the rights of Palestinians and our Jewish communities” and insisted he wants everyone to feel “safe and welcome” in his party.
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everyone → say → party
A motion passed by the party’s conference labelling Zionism as racism has been condemned as “poisonous antisemitism” by chief rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, who described it as a “threat to British Jews and to Britain”.
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who → pass → Britain
Sir Ephraim’s criticism came after Mr Polanski was barred from entering Israel in retaliation for the motion.
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Polanski → come → motion
In a statement released late on Monday Mr Polanski said: “Antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli state are, and must always be, completely distinct – blurring the line between the two is not only wrong but antisemitic, and makes Jewish people less safe.
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people → release → two
“It’s our role as a movement for justice to protect both the rights of Palestinians and our Jewish communities here in the UK.
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It → ’ → UK
“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.
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they → accept → body
“I take seriously my responsibility to make sure everyone feels safe and welcome in our party.
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everyone → take → party
Under my leadership, no-one will be made unwelcome because of their background, their faith, or where they worship.”
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they → make → background
Mr Polanski also said he was “proud” of the party’s position on fighting for freedom and justice for Palestinians, and said the Greens’ stance having shifted the Government’s position.
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stance → say → position
Sir Ephraim, the chief rabbi, previously 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
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“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 → read → 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 previous 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
Members in Brighton on Sunday 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”.
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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It → declare → 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
Asked if the new stance meant Zionists would be kicked out of the party, former councillor Salma Yaqoob said “absolutely not”.
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Yaqoob → ask → party
A party spokesman said: “The Green Party is an anti-racist party and has consistently opposed the illegal occupation of both Palestinian and Syrian land, called for an end to arms sales to the Israeli government and spoken out fearlessly about the devastating situation in Gaza and the West Bank.
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Party → say → Gaza
“Those positions remain central to our approach.
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positions → remain → approach
So too does our deeply held commitment to equality, justice and human rights for all, and opposition to racism in all its forms.”
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commitment → do → forms
The members voted against adding a clause to make clear the motion should not be used to “pressure, proscribe or discipline” party members for their affiliation to synagogues or other Jewish groups that describe themselves as Zionist.
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that → vote → Zionist
The Board of Deputies of British Jews said the Greens have become “an extremist party”.
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Greens → say → Jews
“The motion passed by the Green Party today is an attack on the Jewish community,” a statement said.
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statement → pass → community
The vote has exposed divisions within the party as four of its five MPs – Ellie Chowns, Sian Berry and ex-leaders Adrian Ramsay and Carla Denyer – came out to publicly reject the motion.
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four → expose → motion
Ms Chowns said in a social media post that she was concerned the motion “risks fuelling division and risks undermining the party’s ability to advocate effectively for justice and peace”.
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motion → say → justice
Afterwards, party leader Mr Polanski and the five MPs released a joint statement saying they would “always uphold universal human rights”.
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they → release → 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
The position will become party policy, but the Greens do not require all their politicians to back it.
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Greens → become → it
Chairwoman of the Labour Party Bridget Phillipson described the decision as “fundamentally wrong”.
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Phillipson → describe → decision
The Conservatives said it showed the Green Party is “toxic to its core”.
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Party → say → core
The Aporia
