Zack Polanski refuses to say Israel has a right to exist as he brands Zionism a ‘racist ideology’ that has led to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians
Green Party leader Zack Polanski declined to say Israel has a right to exist, arguing that countries do not have that right but people do. He described Zionism’s practical application in Gaza and the West Bank as racist and colonial, drawing renewed scrutiny amid a dispute over his party’s policy and its handling of antisemitism.
Polanski said he disagreed with a conference motion that labelled Zionism racism and called for Israel to be replaced by a Palestinian state, but would not seek to change the policy before 2028. The motion prompted Jewish Greens leader Vivien Lichtenstein to call for his resignation, while Labour warned local Green groups in coalition with it to reject the motion or lose its support. An Ipsos poll in October found 52 per cent viewed Polanski unfavourably and 16 per cent favourably, giving him a net rating of minus 36.
- Polanski said countries have no right to exist, but people do.
- He called Zionism’s practical application racist and colonial.
- Ipsos found his net favourability had fallen to minus 36.