Zack Polanski's Green Party referred to EHRC over 'Zionism is racism' motion as ex-leader considers quitting

Green Party members voted 1,022 to 813 and passed the motion, which defined "Zionism is racism" and adopted it without substantive amendment.

Party leader Zack Polanski did not take part in the vote but released a statement after the motion passed.

He said: "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.

"It’s our role as a movement for justice to protect both the rights of Palestinians and our Jewish communities here in the UK.

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

"I am proud of our party’s principled position on fighting for freedom and justice for Palestinians."

The Green Party has been referred to the EHRC after voting to declare that 'Zionism is racism' at its party conference in Brighton

PA

The motion took place amid existing concerns regarding the Green Party’s relationship with its Jewish members and the wider Jewish community.

Prior to prior to passing of the motion, the Campaign Against Antisemitism group wrote to the Green Party requesting clarification on the impact and effect of the resolution.

After receiving no response, the CAA wrote to the Green Party a second time on October 7 – asking them how the motion is going to be implemented.

The letter read: "The motion defines Zionism as a 'racist and settler-colonial ideology', which is not a definition most Jews or those sympathetic to Israel or who otherwise describe themselves as Zionists, would recognise or accept.

"It also effectively states that the State of Israel should not exist, which we consider is aimed to foreclose or render vulnerable to sanction 'any form of sympathy or support for the state of Israel, or the idea of a Jewish homeland'."

The letter also confirmed that the CAA has reported the author of the motion, Lubna Speitan, to the Metropolitan Police Service on a separate matter.

Chief Executive of Campaign Against Antisemitism Gideon Falter declared that they will "will not stand idly by as extremists hijack a political party and make antisemitism its openly stated policy".

He said: "On October 7, we did not just remember, we acted. We have referred the Green Party to the EHRC, just as we referred Jeremy Corbyn’s Labour Party.

"The EHRC’s investigation into the Labour Party resulted in a landmark decision which made clear that political parties can be held accountable if they discriminate against Jews. We believe that is what is happening now in the Green Party.

"The Green Party’s decision to adopt its ‘Zionism is racism’ motion is racist and unlawful because it discriminates against Jews. Whether the Party believes itself to be above the law, or – by staggering incompetence – has not bothered to check the legal position, we will ensure that it faces the consequences of its actions.

"The Green Party has become and continues to be a party which discriminates against Jewish members and associates either in their capacity as Jews, or as persons who are, or are perceived to be, associated with Zionism and the State of Israel.

"We are aware of various Jewish and Zionist members of the Green Party who now find their continued presence in the Party untenable, as well as many who have left the Party, and we are asking anybody in such a position to contact us confidentially so that we may examine further action against the Green Party."

Waveney MP Adrian Ramsay, who co-led the Green Party before Mr Polanski succeeded him last year, refused to rule out resigning over the motion.