Archive · 5 Oct 2026
UK Greens Class Zionism as Racism, Drawing Strong Criticism
The Green Party in Britain voted to describe Zionism as a form of racism.
The vote passed by 1,022 to 813.
The party says Zionism is a political project that gives one group special status, and says its criticism is not aimed at Jewish people.
The motion also supports one democratic state across historic Palestine, where everyone would have equal rights.
Critics say this would deny Jewish people the right to national self-determination.
Jewish organisations, Israel and the Labour Party criticised the decision.
Israel called the motion antisemitic and barred Green leader Zack Polanski from entering the country.
Some Green MPs opposed the motion, and Polanski did not vote.
The reports give different dates for the vote: October 4 and October 5.
The Green Party of England and Wales voted 1,022 to 813 to classify Zionism as a form of racism.
The motion calls Zionism an “ethnonationalist political project” and supports a single democratic state across historic Palestine, with equal rights for all.
The party says its position targets a political ideology, not Jewish people; critics argue the policy denies Jewish national self-determination.
British Jewish organisations, Israel and the Labour Party condemned the decision; Israel called it antisemitic and barred Green leader Zack Polanski from entering the country.
Deputy leader Mothin Ali cited Palestinian deaths in Gaza as context for the vote; several Green MPs opposed the motion, while Polanski did not vote.
- Who
- The Green Party of England and Wales; critics included British Jewish organisations, the Israeli government and the Labour Party.
- What
- The party voted to classify Zionism as a form of racism and backed a single democratic state throughout historic Palestine.
- When
- The reports give October 4 and October 5 as the vote date.
- Where
- The vote took place at the party conference in Brighton, England.
- Why
- Supporters cited the party's view of Zionism and the Palestinian death toll in Gaza; the motion says it seeks equal rights and self-determination.
Supporters of the motion
Critics of the motion
Whether anti-Zionism is antisemitic
Supporters of the motion
The Greens say they oppose a political ideology, not Jewish people, and argue anti-Zionism can coexist with support for Jewish rights.
Critics of the motion
Jewish organisations and Israel argue that the motion denies Jewish people national self-determination and crosses into antisemitism.
The proposed state
Supporters of the motion
The motion backs a single democratic state throughout historic Palestine, with equal rights for all.
Critics of the motion
Critics say this would reject Israel's existence as a Jewish state and deny Jewish national self-determination.
Context of the vote
Supporters of the motion
Deputy leader Mothin Ali said the Palestinian death toll in Gaza was key context for the motion.
Critics of the motion
Israel rejects claims of genocide and ethnic cleansing; Israel also accused the party of legitimising terrorism.
- Vote
- 1,022 in favour and 813 opposed.
- Party's description of Zionism
- An “ethnonationalist political project.”
- State proposal
- A single democratic state throughout historic Palestine, with equal rights for all.
- Arms trade
- The party renewed its call for the UK government to end all arms trade with Israel.
- Green MPs
- Four of the party's five MPs publicly rejected the motion.
- Zack Polanski
- The Green Party leader did not vote; Israel subsequently barred him from entering the country.
- Date discrepancy
- One report dates the vote to October 4 and another to October 5.
