Green Party members back 'Zionism is racism' motion

The Green Party has adopted a motion declaring Zionism to be a form of racism, causing division among senior party figures. The motion was put forward by activists at the Greens' conference in Brighton, receiving backing from 1,022 members compared to 813 votes against. Mothin Ali, one of the party's two deputy leaders, supported the measure, while Rachel Millward opposed it, arguing the wording was problematic.

The motion defines Zionism as an ideology supporting an ethnonationalist Jewish state, and advocates for a single democratic Palestinian state in historic Palestine. However, some Jewish groups, including the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council, have criticized the motion, arguing that it mischaracterizes Zionism as an anti-racist movement.

Polanski, the party's leader, had previously stated he believed Zionism, as defined in the motion, was racist, but insisted that the party should not decide the future of the region. The motion still needs to be included in the party's manifesto for the upcoming general election.