Board of Deputies declares Green Party ‘racist’ over anti-Zionist policy
The Board of Deputies of British Jews has voted to call the Green Party of England and Wales racist, following the party’s adoption of a conference motion describing Zionism as racism. The dispute matters because the Board is urging other parties to avoid coalition deals with the Greens unless they reject the policy.
The Board’s resolution passed by 118 votes to one on Sunday. Its president, Phil Rosenberg, said the policy labels a central part of many Jews’ identity as racist and gives prejudice political licence. The Green Party said it does not discriminate against people with Zionist views, and described its motion as opposition to the displacement of Palestinians; Labour has told some local Green coalition partners to disown it or risk losing Labour’s support.
In short
- The Board of Deputies voted 118 to one to call the Greens racist.
- It urged parties to reject coalition deals unless the policy is reversed.
- The Greens say the motion targets Palestinian displacement, not people with Zionist views.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
The Board’s case is that describing Zionism as racism risks treating a political and national movement central to many Jews’ identity as inherently illegitimate, and may make anti-Jewish prejudice easier to excuse. It argues that parties considering cooperation with the Greens should seek a clear rejection of the motion to show that Jewish members and voters will be protected from discrimination.
The case against
The Green Party’s case is that opposing Zionism, as expressed in this motion, is criticism of a political ideology and of Palestinian displacement, not hostility towards Jews as a people. It says people who hold Zionist views are not discriminated against within the party, and that political coalitions should be judged on conduct and policies rather than compelled repudiation of a conference motion.
Explained simply
The Green Party of England and Wales is a political party whose members set policy at conferences. Zionism broadly refers to support for a Jewish homeland in Israel, though people use the term in different ways and hold a range of views about it.
The Board of Deputies of British Jews represents Jewish communities in the UK and speaks on issues affecting them. Disagreement over Zionism and the rights of Palestinians has become a point of political contention, including over whether criticism of Zionism targets a political idea or affects Jewish people more broadly.
The dispute has implications for cooperation between parties, particularly in local councils where groups may need partners to govern. It also raises questions about how political parties define and address racism and discrimination.
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