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UK Greens declare Zionism racism; Israel bars leader Polanski

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Neutral summary

The Green Party of England and Wales voted at its Brighton conference on 4 October to adopt a motion declaring Zionism a form of racism. The motion passed by 1,022 votes to 813 and was adopted without substantive amendment. The text defines Zionism as an “ethnonationalist political project” and states that opposition to Zionism should not be equated with antisemitism. It reaffirms the party’s support for Palestinian liberation, the right of return for Palestinians, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement and a full arms embargo on Israel. Party leader Zack Polanski, who is Jewish, did not take part in the vote. Israel’s Foreign Ministry barred Polanski from entering the country, calling the resolution “antisemitic.” Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis condemned the move as “poisonous antisemitism.” More than a dozen Labour MPs reported the party to Sussex Police and the Equality and Human Rights Commission. The European Green Party said the motion goes against its policy, and the co-leader of the German Greens called it “intolerable and unacceptable.” US antisemitism envoy Ambassador Rabbi Yehuda Kaploun branded the party “hypocritical” and said Washington would make “representations” to the British government. Polanski said the party will “not accept any exclusion” of people based on religion.

How it was framed

Outlets: 48. Countries: 13. Facts in the shared core: 5.

Publication timeline

  1. · Haaretz (outlet profile)

    U.K. Green Party conference debates controversial 'Zionism is racism' motion. Party leaders and Jewish members warn the proposal risks alienating Jewish supporters and fueling division, while some activists push to reje…

  2. · The National (Scotland) (outlet profile)

    Greens back 'Zionism is racism' motion after intense debate. GREEN members have voted for a motion declaring that "Zionism is racism" after a fraught internal debate.

  3. · Daily Mail (outlet profile)

    Greens labelled 'first openly anti-Semitic party in the UK' as members approve Zionism is Racism motion - but leader Polanski skips vote. In a move set to send shockwaves through the divided hard Left party's ranks, mem…

  4. · GB News (outlet profile)

    Green Party passes 'Zionism is racism' motion following members vote. Zack Polanski's Green Party has voted to formally establish itself as an anti-Zionist party, after members backed a motion at the party’s 2026 confer…

  5. · The Jerusalem Post (outlet profile)

    UK Greens becomes first openly declared anti-Zionist mainstream party in Europe. On Saturday, Polanski told the Conference, "We stand with one voice now as we say: 'Drop the charges. End the genocide. Deproscribe Palest…

  6. · Haaretz (outlet profile)

    U.K. Green Party adopts controversial 'Zionism is racism' motion. Party leaders and Jewish members warned the proposal risks alienating Jewish supporters and fueling division, while some activists pushed to reject leade…

  7. · Evening Standard (outlet profile)

    Greens make ‘Zionism is racism’ party policy as Polanski skips vote. Members at the party conference in Brighton backed the motion with 1,022 votes in favour and 813 against.

  8. · Belfast Telegraph (outlet profile)

    Greens make ‘Zionism is racism’ party policy as Polanski skips vote

  9. · Morning Star (outlet profile)

    Green Party members pass motion defining zionism as racism. GREEN Party members passed a motion today to define zionism as racism at the party’s conference in Brighton. Members backed the motion which declares the Green…

  10. · Evening Standard (outlet profile)

    Green party members back controversial motion on Zionism and future of Palestine. Delegates voted 56 per cent in favour of the motion, and 44 per cent against it

  11. · Novara Media (outlet profile)

    Greens Pass ‘Zionism Is Racism’ Motion at Party Conference. Green party members have voted to back a motion stating that Zionism is racism, making the Greens the first explicitly anti-Zionist mainstream political party…

  12. · The Mirror (outlet profile)

    Green Party members endorse ‘Zionism is racism’ policy in split with MPs. Members at the Green Party conference backed the motion stating that Zionism, the movement to develop and protect a Jewish state in Israel, will…

  13. · Jessica Elgot (Guardian) (outlet profile)

    It's hard to see how the Green party's motion today will avoid an investigation by the EHRC, given Labour was previously found in breach.

  14. · The National (Scotland) (outlet profile)

    Holocaust survivor hails Green 'Zionism is racism' motion. A HOLOCAUST survivor has welcomed the English and Welsh Greens’ decision to class Zionism as racism.

  15. · The National (Scotland) (outlet profile)

    Israeli government issues furious response as English Greens say 'Zionism is racism'. THE Israeli government has issued a furious response to the Green Party of England and Wales adopting a “Zionism is racism” stance.

  16. · The Economist (outlet profile)

    Britain’s Greens have voted, shamefully, to say Zionism is racism. It is a damning moment for a political party with pretensions to power

  17. · South China Morning Post (outlet profile)

    UK Green Party adopts ‘Zionism is racism’ policy, drawing backlash from Israel. The UK’s left-wing Green Party on Sunday voted to define Zionism as racism at the party’s annual meeting, drawing sharp backlash from Briti…

  18. · ТАСС (outlet profile)

    Британские "зеленые" приравняли сионизм к расизму. Партия также проголосовала за создание "единого демократического Палестинского государства"

  19. · Kurir (outlet profile)

    "CIONIZAM JE RASIZAM!" Britanski Zelenki prelomili: Odluka izazvala pobunu u vrhu stranke, a jedna stvar posebno podiže prašinu

  20. · Al-Monitor (outlet profile)

    UK Green party adopts 'Zionism is racism' policy. The UK's left-wing Green party on Sunday voted to define Zionism as racism at the party's annual get-together, drawing sharp backlash from British Jewish groups and the…

  21. · Российская газета (outlet profile)

    Британская партия приравняла еврейский сионизм к расизму. Партия "зеленых" Англии и Уэльса официально признала сионизм формой расизма. Соответствующая резолюция была принята большинством голосов в завершающий день съезд…

  22. · Tanjug (outlet profile)

    Britanska Zelena stranka proglasila cionizam oblikom rasizma

  23. · Al-Monitor (outlet profile)

    Britain's Green Party votes to class Zionism as a form of racism. By David Milliken LONDON, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Britain's Green Party voted on Sunday to class Zionism as a form of racism, drawing criticism from British Je…

  24. · Al-Monitor (outlet profile)

    UK Green Party declares Zionism is racism, angering Israel. By David Milliken LONDON, Oct 5 (Reuters) - Britain's Green Party voted to class Zionism as a form of racism, drawing criticism from British Jews and from the…

  25. · Le Parisien (outlet profile)

    « Le sionisme est du racisme » : au Royaume-Uni, les Verts adoptent une motion qui provoque la colère d’Israël

  26. · Politika (outlet profile)

    Британска Зелена странка прогласила ционизам обликом расизма. Британска Зелена странка изгласала је данас да означи ционизам обликом расизма

  27. · RFI (outlet profile)

    Royaume-Uni: les Verts adoptent une motion disant que «le sionisme est du racisme». Les Verts britanniques ont approuvé dimanche 4 octobre une motion affirmant que le sionisme est une forme de racisme, suscitant des con…

  28. · UOL (outlet profile)

    Partido Verde da Grã-Bretanha vota para classificar sionismo como uma forma de racismo. Por David Milliken

  29. · Daily Maverick (outlet profile)

    Britain’s Green Party votes to class Zionism as a form of racism. LONDON, Oct 4 (Reuters) - Britain's Green Party voted on Sunday to class Zionism as a form of racism, drawing criticism from British Jews and from the Is…

  30. · El País (outlet profile)

    El congreso del Partido Verde británico aprueba una moción que equipara sionismo con racismo. La votación fracciona a la formación y desata la ira de las organizaciones judías, que la acusan de antisemita

Factual core

  • The British Green Party adopted a motion declaring that Zionism is racism.
  • The UK Green Party called for the deproscription of Palestine Action.
  • The motion was passed at the Green Party conference in Brighton.
  • Green Party leader Zack Polanski did not take part in the vote.
  • The motion says Zionism should be considered like any other form of racism.

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