UK Green Party backs ‘Zionism is racism’ motion, supports single Palestinian state
The Green Party of England and Wales passed a motion declaring 'Zionism is Racism' at its party conference on Sunday. The motion also includes Green Party support for a single democratic Palestinian state "with equal rights for all." The motion passed by 1,022 votes to 813, while an amendment aimed at protecting Jewish party members from expulsion if they belong to self-identified "Zionist" synagogues failed to pass, with 1,026 votes against and 684 in favor.
Left out here: Leaves out what changes the picture
The article never quotes the motion's own text, which says it is aimed at the ideology of Zionism and not at the religious or ethnic background of those who identify as Zionists. It also never reports the motion's caveat that anti-Zionism should not be equated with antisemitism. Without this, and next to the claim that the motion pushes for Israel's destruction, a reader believes the motion targets Jewish people.
How we know
- New York Post reported“This motion is aimed at the political ideology and practice of Zionism, as defined, and not at the religious or ethnic background of those who may identify as Zionists.”Green Party in UK declares 'Zionism is racism' — and backs ending state of Israel (opens in a new tab)
- The Independent reported“caveating that anti-Zionism should not be equated with antisemitism”Green Party members pass ‘Zionism is racism’ motion (opens in a new tab)
The motion also faced serious opposition from the party's leadership, with four out of the party's five MPs opposing the motion as well as the party's leader, Zack Polanski, who wanted to block the motion from pushing for the destruction of Israel. Green Party MP Adrian Ramsay said that endorsing a single Palestinian state did not match Green commitments to self-determination. Some party members are planning to challenge the motion in court under equality laws with lawyer Adam Wagner telling The Guardian that such a case would have a good chance of succeeding.
Wagner went on to say that it was possible that, under the Equality Act 2010, a broad definition of Zionism was a protected belief and that attempts to discriminate or harass others for that belief would "create an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment for Jewish people and Zionists." Despite the motion's passage, its actual effect remains to be seen because because under the Green Party's internal rules, member-supported motions become official party policy, but will not necessarily be included in the party's manifesto at the next general election.
The Green Party of England and Wales has become the center of anti-Zionist politics in the UK over the past few years, beginning before October 7, but accelerating after. Many anti-Zionists left the UK Labour Party under Keir Starmer because they felt he was too soft on Israel, and moved to the Green Party. Under current leader Zack Polanski, the party has emphasized its anti-Zionist credentials over its traditional environmental focus.
Israel's Foreign Ministry condemned the Green Party saying, "the UK Green Party ceased to function as a political party and transformed into a pro-terror entity. The Greens have officially adopted Hamas’s signature green color and its ideological doctrine calling for the destruction of the State of Israel through armed struggle." The Foreign Ministry called on all UK parties to dsiavow the party's motion. UK terrorist plot or mistaken arrest?
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