Former Green leaders oppose motion equating Zionism with racism
Two former Green Party leaders, Caroline Lucas and Adrian Ramsay, have criticised a motion due to be debated at the party’s conference in Brighton, which would define Zionism as support for an ethnonationalist Jewish state and treat it as racism. Lucas warned it could be seen as signalling that Jewish people are unwelcome in the party, while Ramsay said adopting it would be wrong.
The motion also opposes Zionism and supports a single democratic Palestinian state across historic Palestine, with Jerusalem as its capital. Lucas said she would vote against it, and Ramsay argued it could undermine support for the rights of both Israelis and Palestinians to statehood. Current leader Zack Polanski, who is Jewish and has described himself as anti-Zionist, is expected to support the motion while backing amendments on Palestinian self-determination and protections for Jewish members.
- Lucas and Ramsay oppose a Greens motion defining Zionism as racism.
- Lucas warned it could make Jewish people feel unwelcome.
- Polanski is expected to support the motion and proposed amendments.
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Zionism is a political movement that advocates for a Jewish state, historically focused on Israel. The Green Party is due to debate a motion at its conference that would define Zionism as support for an ethnonationalist Jewish state and classify it as racism, whilst also supporting a single democratic Palestinian state across historic Palestine.
The motion has divided senior figures within the party. Two former Green leaders, Caroline Lucas and Adrian Ramsay, have said they will oppose it, with Lucas warning it could make Jewish members feel unwelcome and Ramsay arguing it would undermine support for both Israeli and Palestinian statehood. However, current party leader Zack Polanski, who is Jewish and identifies as anti-Zionist, is expected to support the motion, though he may back amendments to protect Jewish members' rights.
The debate reflects longstanding tensions within the party and broader left-wing politics about how to discuss Israeli and Palestinian rights whilst remaining welcoming to Jewish people with different political views on these issues. The dispute highlights how the same terms mean different things to different people and how Zionism remains a topic where strong feelings exist.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Greens meltdown over ‘Zionism is racism’ motion as ex-leader Caroline Lucas warns it will tell Jews they are ‘not welcome’”.