Jewish leaders condemn Green Party policy in vote on antisemitism

The Board of Deputies of British Jews voted 118 to one to declare that the Green Party of England and Wales had adopted an antisemitic platform and become a “racist party”. It said the party’s conference policy describing Zionism as racism stigmatises Jewish identity and gives prejudice against Jews political licence.

The Board urged other parties not to form coalition arrangements with the Greens unless local leaders reject the policy and commit to reversing it. Labour has told some local Green groups in existing coalitions to disown the motion or risk losing its support. The Greens said they do not exclude people for holding Zionist views and described the policy as opposition to the displacement of Palestinians and Israeli government actions.