Green Party Divided Over Zionism Motion

The Green Party has ignited a firestorm after members voted to define Zionism as an ethnonationalist ideology and support a single democratic Palestinian state across historic Palestine, including modern-day Israel ^[1]. The motion, approved by 1,022 to 813 at the party’s biggest-ever conference, has drawn sharp criticism from Jewish groups and senior party figures.

Westminster leader Ellie Chowns called the policy 'significant and damaging' and said she would work to reform the party’s structures, warning that it must not become 'vulnerable to capture by extremists and racists' ^[1]. She added that the motion, backed by just 0.4% of the party’s 230,000 members, revealed flaws in the party’s policy-making process. According to, the claim that the motion was driven by a single interest group has not been confirmed by multiple sources.

Former leader Caroline Lucas echoed concerns, saying the party’s constitution—written decades ago—no longer reflects its current scale and influence. She stressed the need to be a 'welcoming place for Jewish people' ^[1]. The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council condemned the motion, calling Zionism 'anti-racism' and a refuge for Jews after centuries of persecution.

Zack Polanski, the current party leader, said he would not have voted for the motion in its current form, calling it 'imperfect', though he agreed with its core claim that the displacement and genocide of Palestinians is rooted in a racist ideology ^[1]. He left the conference early to campaign in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, which he lost to Labour’s Sagal Abdi-Wali.

Following the defeat, Vivien Lichtenstein, leader of the Jewish Greens, said Polanski should resign, calling it a 'big mistake' he dodged a debate on the motion ^[1]. Polanski insisted he would stay on as leader, despite the loss and mounting pressure.

The Green Party defended the process, stating that members, not leadership, set policy and that the motion was one of many debated at the conference ^[1]. The story was first reported by BBC News.