UK Green party adopts 'Zionism is racism' policy

The UK's Green party has formally adopted a policy defining Zionism as racism, a decision that has sparked significant controversy. At the party's annual conference, members voted overwhelmingly in favor of the motion, with 1,022 votes in support compared to 813 against. The Green party, which currently holds five seats in the UK parliament, asserts that this stance treats Zionism on par with other forms of racism, advocating for a single democratic Palestinian State in historic Palestine.

The motion has drawn sharp criticism from British Jewish groups and the Israeli government. Three prominent Jewish community organizations have expressed deep concern, warning that this stance could pose serious risks to the safety and well-being of British Jews. Israel's foreign ministry called the policy an overstep in political discourse.

The controversy has exposed internal divisions within the Green party, with its charismatic leader Zack Polanski, currently seeking a seat in the UK parliament, absent during the vote. Despite opposition from at least three of the party's five MPs, Polanski maintained that the displacement and genocide in Gaza constitute racism, a view not shared by all within the party.

United Nations investigators have labeled Israeli actions in Gaza as genocide, a claim Israel strongly disputes. The adoption of this policy marks a significant shift for the Green party, potentially impacting its electoral prospects and public image.