Greens are a racist party, says Jewish group

The UK’s largest Jewish community organisation has declared the Green Party racist. The Board of Deputies of British Jews passed a motion on Sunday saying that Zack Polanski ’s party has, “by adopting an anti-Semitic platform, become a racist party”. The declaration was in response to the Greens passing the controversial Zionism-is-racism motion at its party conference earlier this month. The Jewish organisation added that it would now treat the Greens “as it has treated other racist parties”. The Green motion declared the party to be an “anti-Zionist party” and stated that Zionism – the movement to develop and protect a Jewish state in Israel – would be treated “as any other form of racism”. The motion defined Zionism as an “ethno-nationalist political policy for a Jewish state in historic Palestine”. It also supported the establishment of a “single democratic Palestinian state”. Phil Rosenberg, the president of the Board of Deputies, said Jewish communities had delivered “a clear verdict” on a Green Party policy that “gives prejudice against Jews a political licence”. He also called on the party to reverse the motion and confront “the anti-Semitism it has legitimised”. Mr Rosenberg said: “We recognise and commend those within the party who have opposed it, including Jewish members whose warnings were disregarded. They deserve to be heard and supported. “We call on democratic parties and wider civil society to apply the same standards to anti-Jewish racism that they would to any other form of racism.” Jewish Green members said they planned to sue the party for discrimination and harassment after the motion, adding they might take action in the High Court because they no longer felt welcome in the party. It is understood Jewish and Zionist members are not seeking financial compensation, but rather an injunction that would force the Greens to reverse the policy. The board’s decision to declare the party “racist” was taken at the organisation’s October Plenary meeting, and “reflects the profound concern across the Jewish community at a policy which brands a central element of Jewish identity as racist”, the organisation said. The board said: “For many British Jews, the connection to Israel is expressed through religious practice, family relationships, language, culture and the belief that the Jewish people have the same right to national self-determination as any other peoples. “Declaring that connection racist has consequences for Jewish participation in public life and the treatment of Jewish communal institutions.” Labour distancing itself from Green councils The decision was the latest blow to the Greens after Labour pledged to end power-sharing deals with Green councils that back the motion. Labour asked its council groups to review their agreements with the party in light of the policy, and terminate them if their Green partners do not agree to condemn it. Andy Burnham’s party is in partnership with the Greens in 14 councils in England either through “confidence and supply” arrangements or coalitions with other progressive parties. Ashley Hirst, who proposed the board’s motion to declare the Greens as racist, said: “I have inherited three thousand years of stories, language, memory and daily practice that tie me to Zion, and I’m proud British Jews have said clearly that a party which declares that this is racist is itself a racist party.” The Green Party was approached for comment.