In a vote that redraws the boundaries of British progressive politics, the Green Party formally declared Zionism a form of racism — a decision that has drawn condemnation from Israel, Jewish communal organizations, and rival parties alike. The motion, passed by the party membership on Friday, invokes the phrase 'from the river to the sea' in its call for Palestinian self-determination, language that critics say denies Israel's legitimacy as a state. At a moment when the Greens might have leveraged growing electoral influence into genuine coalition power, the party instead finds itself isolated
Green Party adopts 'Zionism is racism' policy; Israel condemns as 'stain on UK history'
Made it impossible for them to be accommodated in any administration.
Mark
Why does this motion matter so much? It's a policy position—parties adopt positions all the time.
Mimi
Because it's not just a position on Israeli policy. It's a statement about whether an entire people's aspiration for self-determination is inherently racist. That's a line most democracies don't cross.
Luke
But we should be clear: the motion passed among party members. It's not clear how many voted, what the margin was, or whether this represents the actual membership or just those who showed up.
Mark
The Israeli government called it a stain on UK history. That's pretty strong language from a foreign government about a British political party.
Mimi
They see it as delegitimizing Israel's existence. The phrase "from the river to the sea" is read as erasing Israel entirely. From their perspective, this isn't debate—it's a threat.
Luke
That's their reading. Others would say it's a statement about Palestinian rights. The source doesn't tell us what the motion actually says word-for-word, so we're working from interpretations.
Mark
What about the Jewish organizations in Britain? They seem united against this.
Mimi
Three major groups—the Board of Deputies, the Community Security Trust, and the Jewish Leadership Council—warned before the vote that passage would put the Greens on the extreme margins. They were right. Now they're watching to see if the EHRC investigates, like it did Labour.
Luke
That's a real concern for the party. But we should note: the EHRC investigation of Labour took years and was complex. We don't know if this will trigger one or what it would find.
Mark
The party leader skipped the vote?
Mimi
Yes. Zack Polanski didn't show up, which his own MPs and critics saw as a failure of leadership. He later endorsed a statement contradicting the motion, but by then the damage was done.
Luke
That's worth noting: he didn't argue against it beforehand, didn't use his position to shape the outcome. Whether that's weakness or a calculation to avoid a bigger split, we don't know.
Mark
Is this going to destroy the party?
Mimi
Not immediately. But it's eliminated them from any near-term coalition talks. Paul Ovenden, who worked for Starmer, said they just made themselves impossible to work with in government.
Luke
That's one person's assessment. It's plausible, but it's not a fact about what will happen. The Greens could recover from this politically if they walk it back or if circumstances change.
Il Polso
- The Green Party's membership voted to equate Zionism with racism, triggering immediate and sweeping condemnation from Israel's foreign ministry, British Jewish organizations, and politicians across the political spectrum.
- Jewish leadership bodies had warned before the vote that passage would push the party to 'the extreme margins of democratic politics' — a warning that now appears to have been borne out.
- Fractures inside the party surfaced almost instantly: the former co-leader expressed deep sadness, five Green MPs distanced themselves from the motion, and the party leader endorsed their statement despite having skipped the vote entirely — while one co-deputy leader had voted in favor.
- The Equality and Human Rights Commission may now investigate the party, echoing the process that previously found Labour in breach of its duties on antisemitism.
- Political strategists close to Labour say the vote has effectively closed the door on any future coalition arrangement, costing the Greens a historic opportunity for expanded influence just as electoral reform was within reach.
In a vote that redraws the boundaries of British progressive politics, the Green Party formally declared Zionism a form of racism — a decision that has drawn condemnation from Israel, Jewish communal organizations, and rival parties alike. The motion, passed by the party membership on Friday, invokes the phrase 'from the river to the sea' in its call for Palestinian self-determination, language that critics say denies Israel's legitimacy as a state. At a moment when the Greens might have leveraged growing electoral influence into genuine coalition power, the party instead finds itself isolated — caught between the convictions of its membership and the expectations of the broader democratic mainstream.
On Friday, the Green Party formally adopted a motion equating Zionism with racism, a decision that provoked swift and sweeping condemnation. Israel's foreign ministry called it 'a stain on the history of the United Kingdom,' arguing the resolution — which invokes Palestinian self-determination 'from the river to the sea' — legitimizes armed struggle and denies Israel's right to exist.
British Jewish organizations had jointly warned the party before the vote that passage would place it on 'the extreme margins of democratic politics.' Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp echoed that judgment, calling the party 'toxic to its core' and raising the prospect of an Equality and Human Rights Commission investigation — the same process that previously found Labour in breach of its duties on antisemitism.
The internal damage was immediate and visible. Former co-leader Adrian Ramsay said he was 'deeply saddened' by the result. Five Green MPs issued a statement insisting there was 'no conflict between supporting the rights of Palestinians and the rights of Jewish people' — an implicit distancing from the motion. Party leader Zack Polanski endorsed their statement, as did both co-deputy leaders — though one of them, Mothin Ali, had actually voted in favor of the motion, leaving the party's public position visibly contradictory.
Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron used the moment to invite disaffected Greens into his party, accusing those behind the motion of being 'antisemitic entryists' and criticizing Polanski for skipping the vote altogether. Senior party sources acknowledged the Greens had been 'plunged into chaos.'
The broader political cost may prove lasting. A former director of political strategy for Keir Starmer argued the vote had made it 'impossible' for the Greens to be accommodated in any future Labour-led administration — a striking reversal of fortune at a moment when electoral reform had briefly placed the party on the threshold of its greatest-ever political opportunity.
The Green Party formally adopted a motion on Friday equating Zionism with racism, a decision that triggered swift and severe condemnation from Israel's foreign ministry, British Jewish organizations, and opposition politicians who characterized the vote as antisemitic and a departure from mainstream democratic politics.
The party's membership passed the resolution, which the Israeli foreign ministry said legitimizes armed struggle and calls for a Palestinian state "from the river to the sea"—language the ministry interpreted as denying Israel's right to exist. In an official statement, Israel's foreign ministry called the adoption "a stain on the history of the United Kingdom" and said it "goes far beyond the boundaries of legitimate political debate."
The Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Community Security Trust, and the Jewish Leadership Council had jointly warned the party before the vote that passage would place it "on the extreme margins of democratic politics." Their prediction proved prescient. Chris Philp, the Conservative shadow home secretary, issued a statement saying the vote showed the party was "toxic to its core" and unable to "stand unambiguously against those who hate Jews." He suggested the motion could trigger an investigation by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, the same body that previously found Labour in breach of its duties on antisemitism.
The fractures within the Green Party itself became visible immediately. Adrian Ramsay, the party's former co-leader, issued a statement saying he was "deeply saddened" by the motion's passage and that it did not reflect Green principles or his own views. He reaffirmed the party's 2024 manifesto commitment to equal rights for both Israelis and Palestinians. Five Green MPs released a statement asserting there was "no conflict between supporting the rights of Palestinians and the rights of Jewish people," an implicit disassociation from the motion. Party leader Zack Polanski later endorsed this statement, as did co-deputy leaders Rachel Millward and Mothin Ali—though Ali had actually voted in favor of the motion, creating an awkward contradiction in the party's public positioning.
Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat MP, seized on the division to invite disaffected Green members to join his party, calling those behind the motion "antisemitic entryists" and criticizing Polanski for skipping the vote and failing to use his authority to argue against it. Senior party sources acknowledged the Greens had been "plunged into chaos," with Polanski and the MPs responding too late and too weakly to oppose the motion.
The political consequences extended beyond immediate condemnation. Paul Ovenden, the former director of political strategy for Keir Starmer, suggested the vote had eliminated any possibility of the Greens being included in a future Labour-led administration. "Last week, the Green Party were offered the biggest opportunity they've ever had, in the shape of electoral reform," Ovenden said. "Today, they've made it impossible for them to be accommodated in any administration." The motion, which frames Zionism as racism rather than as a legitimate expression of Jewish self-determination, has left the party isolated at a moment when coalition-building could have significantly expanded its political influence.
Citazioni salienti
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.— Israeli foreign ministry statement
Last week, the Green Party were offered the biggest opportunity they've ever had, in the shape of electoral reform. Today, they've made it impossible for them to be accommodated in any administration.— Paul Ovenden, former director of political strategy for Keir Starmer
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Politics & Governance