Archive · 5 Oct 2026
Israel Bars Green Party Leader After Anti-Zionist Policy Vote
The Green Party in England and Wales voted to make an anti-Zionist position official party policy.
The vote happened at the party’s conference in Brighton.
The motion received 1,022 votes in favour and 813 against.
The policy supports several measures related to Palestinian rights, including a boycott campaign and an arms embargo on Israel.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the policy is antisemitic and denies Jewish people’s right to self-determination.
Israel’s foreign minister then barred Green Party leader Zack Polanski from entering Israel.
The Green Party said it opposes racism and supports equality, justice and human rights.
Polanski and other party leaders said they see no conflict between supporting Palestinians’ rights and Jewish people’s rights.
Green Party of England and Wales members adopted a formal anti-Zionist policy at their annual conference in Brighton.
The motion passed by 1,022 votes to 813 and defines Zionism as an “ethnonationalist political project.”
The policy supports Palestinian liberation, the right of return, BDS, an arms embargo on Israel and one democratic state throughout historic Palestine.
Israel’s Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar ordered party leader Zack Polanski barred from entering Israel.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry called the resolution antisemitic and said it denies Jewish self-determination; the party said it opposes racism and supports human rights.
- Who
- The Green Party of England and Wales, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar and Green Party leader Zack Polanski.
- What
- The party adopted a formal anti-Zionist policy, after which Israel barred Polanski from entering the country.
- When
- The vote took place at the party’s 2026 annual conference; Sa’ar ordered the ban on Sunday.
- Where
- The conference was held in Brighton, England; the ban applies to entry into Israel.
- Why
- Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the policy denies Jewish self-determination and legitimises armed struggle against Israel.
Green Party and supporters
Israeli government
Meaning of the policy
Green Party and supporters
The party defines Zionism as an ethnonationalist political project and says anti-Zionism should not be equated with antisemitism.
Israeli government
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the resolution equates Zionism with racism and denies the Jewish people’s right to self-determination.
Impact and intent
Green Party and supporters
The party says it opposes racism and supports equality, justice and human rights; Polanski and other party leaders said support for Palestinian rights does not conflict with support for Jewish people’s rights.
Israeli government
The ministry said the resolution legitimises armed struggle against Israel and called for a Palestinian state “from the river to the sea,” which it described as meaning Israel’s destruction.
- Vote
- 1,022 in favour; 813 against
- Conference location
- Brighton, England
- Policy status
- The motion became formal policy of the Green Party of England and Wales.
- Policy definition
- The party defines Zionism as an “ethnonationalist political project” and says anti-Zionism should not be equated with antisemitism.
- Policy positions
- The motion supports Palestinian liberation, the right of return, BDS, a full arms embargo against Israel and one democratic state throughout historic Palestine.
- Israeli action
- Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar ordered Green Party leader Zack Polanski barred from entering Israel.
- Israeli rationale
- Israel’s Foreign Ministry said the resolution is antisemitic under the IHRA definition and denies Jewish self-determination.
