Green Splits Erupt As Former Leaders Condemn 'Zionism Is Racism' Motion

Deep splits in the Greens over the party’s approach to the Middle East have burst into the motion after two former leaders hit out at calls for Zionism to be classed as racism.

Delegates at the party’s annual conference in Brighton will debate and vote on a motion on the subject on Sunday.

Zionism is a belief that Jewish people should have their own state, although the precise definition has long been open to debate.

Critics say it risks sending out a message that Jews are not welcome in the Greens.

Ahead of the conference vote, former Green co-leaders Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay both issued statements saying they would be voting against it.

Denyer, the MP for Bristol Central, said: “I do not think that trying to pin down a definition for something that has been a point of contention among scholars for decades helps us in our efforts to support the people of Palestine or end the genocide [in Gaza].”

She added: “If this motion passes as written, I am concerned that elected Greens will be forced to spend our time and energy debating and defending definitions, at the expense of focussing on the essential actions that only we can take to make things materially better for people in Palestine.

“I also worry that the current wording risks alienating a significant proportion of Jewish people, including those who vehemently disagree with the Israeli government.”

In his statement, Ramsay the Greens have “long supported equal rights for Palestinians and Israelis, including the right to self-determination”.

The Waveney Valley MP added: “The Zionism is Racism motion being proposed to the party conference will be widely viewed as going against these long-held principles so I will be voting against it.”

HuffPost UK understands that Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who is Jewish, will not be voting on the motion.

Asked about it on Saturday, he told the BBC: “I think what the party is absolutely united on is recognising we need to end the genocide, we need to stop selling arms to Israel.”

Asked if he believed Zionism is racist, Polanski replied: “Well, in the motion, it is defined as the displacement and genocide of the Palestinian people. I think that is clearly racism.

“I don’t think anyone could argue with that and, as I’ve said, we’ve seen so many innocent people die.”

He added: “If your Zionism is the displacement of the Palestinian people, then that’s clearly racist, and I say that as a Jewish leader of a political party.

“What my focus is on, though, is what materially can we do to make a difference, and that’s stop selling arms to Israel, stop sharing intelligence, and boycott, divestment, sanctions.”

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