Green Party Faces Backlash Over Zionism Motion in Brighton

The Green Party of England and Wales is facing internal and external criticism after members approved a motion at its Brighton conference declaring Zionism to be racism, prompting debate over antisemitism, Israel policy and the party's future use of the Brighton Centre. According to the Telegraph, the motion passed by 1,022 votes to 813 among party members and became official party policy under its constitution. BBC reported that Brighton & Hove City Council is considering whether future Green conferences should be held at the venue it owns. Green Party leader Zack Polanski said he would not have supported the motion because he believed some parts were unacceptable, while he faced pressure from members on opposing sides of the debate.

"I will not accept any exclusion, or refusal to engage with anyone, because of the religious or communal body they are part of" said Zack Polanski, Green Party leader.

Polanski said the party should separate criticism of Israel from hostility toward Jewish people and argued that Palestinian and Jewish community rights should both be protected. "Antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli state are, and must always be, completely distinct - blurring the line between the two is not only wrong but antisemitic, and makes Jewish people less safe" said Zack Polanski, Green Party leader.

He also addressed the party's position on the region's future and was repeatedly questioned about Israel's existence during a BBC Radio 4 interview. "I believe everyone deserves a safe home" said Zack Polanski, Green Party leader.

Polanski said he opposed oppression and unequal rights, while declining to endorse a specific state arrangement between Israelis and Palestinians. "I do not believe any state has the right to oppress or to commit apartheid, and certainly not genocide on another people. Now, it may be in the future that there is a solution in which case Israelis and Palestinians can have equal rights" said Zack Polanski, Green Party leader. He repeated that his focus was equal rights rather than choosing between a one state or two state outcome.

"I want to see equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians, but at the moment Palestinians do not have equal rights" said Zack Polanski, Green Party leader.

Brighton & Hove City Council leader Bella Sankey criticized the motion and said it conflicted with the city's stated commitment to inclusion. BBC reported that she was considering refusing future Green Party conference bookings at the Brighton Centre. "I am deeply concerned at the prospect of the Green Party returning to Brighton for future conferences" said Bella Sankey, Brighton & Hove City Council leader. Sankey described the motion as harmful and argued it risked affecting Jewish residents and members of the community.

"The motion is divisive, discriminatory and wrong" said Bella Sankey, Brighton & Hove City Council leader.

She said the decision created concerns about how Jewish identity and political views connected to Israel were being treated. "The motion has dangerously conflated the right of Jewish self-determination with the actions of the Israeli government" said Bella Sankey, Brighton & Hove City Council leader.

Sankey added that the council's venue should remain open to people regardless of religion or beliefs. "The Brighton Centre is owned by all of us in the city and should never be a place where people feel excluded due to their religion or beliefs" said Bella Sankey, Brighton & Hove City Council leader.

Vivien Lichtenstein, head of the Jewish Greens, called for Polanski to step down, saying his handling of the motion damaged trust among Jewish members. "He should resign" said Vivien Lichtenstein, head of the Jewish Greens. Lichtenstein said Polanski's response before the motion passed was a serious error.

"A big mistake" said Vivien Lichtenstein, head of the Jewish Greens.

Former Green Party leader Jonathan Bartley criticized the impact of the dispute on the party's public image. "At a time when people vote against what they do not like as much as for what they believe in, it would not be surprising if people voted tactically to keep the Greens out" said Jonathan Bartley, former Green Party leader. Former leader Caroline Lucas also criticized the motion, saying she wanted Polanski to have opposed it more strongly.

"I would have been a very strong critic of this motion" said Caroline Lucas, former Green Party leader.

Lucas said the motion had created divisions within the party. "The motion was flawed from top to bottom - in my view it is dangerous, it is divisive" said Caroline Lucas, former Green Party leader.