Israel has condemned the Green Party’s decision to declare Zionism a form of racism, accusing Zack Polanski’s party of giving “legitimacy to terrorism” and backing the elimination of the State of Israel through armed struggle.
The Israeli foreign ministry described the resolution adopted at the Greens’ autumn conference in Brighton as “shocking”, and called on every British political party, including the Labour Party, to reject it.
An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman said: “The Greens have adopted not only the green of Hamas, but also its ideology: the elimination of the State of Israel through armed struggle.
“The shocking resolution adopted today legitimises armed struggle, calls for a Palestinian state ‘from the river to the sea’ – meaning the destruction of the State of Israel – and labels as “racist” the aspiration of the Jewish people for self-determination.
“This goes far beyond the boundaries of legitimate political debate. As long as this resolution remains in place, it will stand as a stain on the history of the United Kingdom.
“Every political party in Britain, first and foremost the governing Labour Party, must unequivocally reject this twisted resolution.”
The condemnation followed a vote in which 1,022 Green members backed the motion, while 813 opposed it. Mr Polanski did not take part, having left the conference to campaign in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.
The policy states that Zionism – the movement supporting Jewish self-determination in the Jewish people’s ancestral homeland – should be considered racist, and calls for the abolition of Israel and the creation of a “single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital”.
The motion also backs the “right of the Palestinian people to resistance and liberation from Israeli occupation”, and recognises the right of “oppressed colonial peoples to defend themselves against foreign oppression”. It further supports the “removal of Palestine Action from the list of proscribed organisations”.
Israel’s response focused particularly on the motion’s endorsement of a single state across historic Palestine, arguing that the wording amounted to support for the destruction of Israel, rather than criticism of the policies of its government.
The Green Party defended its members’ right to determine party policy, while insisting that it remained opposed to racism and discrimination.
A party spokesman said: “This has been a serious and deeply felt debate within our membership. Our members value the ability to bring forward and decide party policy, and conference has now made its decision.
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“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. Those positions remain central to our approach.”
The Israeli government’s call for other parties to reject the motion was echoed by Labour chair and equalities minister Bridget Phillipson, who described it as “fundamentally wrong”.
She described the vote against a two-state solution for Israel and Palestine as "shameful", and that it would condemn "the vast majority of British Jews and Jews around the world as racist for supporting Israel’s right to exist."
"It is fundamentally wrong and the leadership of the Green Party must make clear that this will not be their position moving forward", she added.
Meanwhile, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp also criticised the decision, saying British Jews should not have to reject support for Jewish self-determination to participate in British political life.
“One look beneath the surface of Zack Polanski’s Green Party shows a party toxic to its core. It is clear the Green Party cannot bring itself to stand unambiguously against those who hate Jews", he added.
The motion’s passage followed a series of unsuccessful attempts to amend it. Two amendments proposing the possibility of more than a single Palestinian state were defeated by margins of more than 100 votes.
A further amendment intended to protect Jewish Green members from disciplinary action over affiliation with Zionist communities was rejected by 1,064 members.
Even former Green leader Caroline Lucas described the motion as “divisive”, while deputy leader Rachel Millward called it “problematic”.
Ellie Chowns MP warned that its adoption could damage the party’s ability to campaign on Palestinian rights.
Jewish Green member Elise Benjamin said: “I’m petrified. The motion basically says Jewish members will have to decide between membership of a synagogue or of the party. I fully expect vexatious complaints against me now. I don’t understand how this helps Palestinians? All this is, is an attack on Jews.”
The Movement for Progressive Judaism condemned the motion as “anti-Semitic in its formulation and intention”.
The five Green MPs collectively said in a statement: “We will never tolerate any form of discrimination or harassment.
“We will continue to stand in opposition to genocide, ethnic cleansing, apartheid and the illegal occupation. We will continue to call out the heinous crimes of the Netanyahu government. And we will continue to work to ensure that the Green Party is an anti-racist party in every way.
“We know there is no conflict between supporting the rights of Palestinians and the rights of Jewish people.”
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