UK Green Party adopts ‘Zionism is racism’ policy, drawing backlash from Israel

The UK Green Party voted on Sunday to label Zionism as a form of racism at its annual conference, sparking strong opposition from Jewish groups and the Israeli government. The motion received 1,022 votes in favor and 813 against, with the Greens, which holds five seats in Britain's parliament, backing the decision. The party's stance is that Zionism should be treated the same as any other form of racism and that the party supports the creation of a "single democratic Palestinian State in all of historic Palestine."

A Green spokesperson said the debate within the membership had been "serious and deeply felt." However, the move has been met with backlash, with three Jewish community groups warning that the motion could be perceived as "overtly antisemitic" and potentially endangering Jewish safety and welfare in the UK. Israel's foreign ministry called the policy "far beyond the boundaries of legitimate political debate," while the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged all British political parties, particularly the governing Labour Party, to reject the resolution.

The controversy has exposed internal divisions within the Green Party, with party leader Zack Polanski, who is running to become an MP in a London constituency, absent from the vote. Despite at least three of the five Green MPs opposing the motion, Polanski has previously stated that the "displacement and genocide of the Palestinian people" is "clearly racism."

United Nations investigators have accused Israel of committing "genocide" in the Gaza conflict, a claim Israel has denied.