Britain’s Green Party votes to class Zionism as a form of racism

On October 4th, Britain's Green Party voted to classify Zionism as a form of racism, sparking backlash from Jewish groups and the Israeli government. The Green Party, which garnered 6% of the national vote in 2024 elections, defined Zionism as an ethnonationalist movement and an act of ethnic cleansing. Party leader Zack Polanski, running for Parliament in a recently vacated London constituency, did not vote.

The motion mirrors the Green Party's stance on ending all arms trade with Israel and supporting the right of self-determination for Palestinians, leading to a vote of 1,022 to 813. British Jewish groups denounced the party, calling it racist and accused some Jews of supporting discrimination against others. The Israeli government responded by branding the Green Party as a body legitimizing terrorism and urging other British political parties to condemn the move.

The Greens assert they will continue to denounce the actions of the Netanyahu government while emphasizing the rights of both Palestinians and Jewish people are not incompatible.