Israel Bans Polanski After Green Party Passes Controversial Motion
Israel's foreign ministry has banned Green Party leader Zack Polanski from entering the country after party members adopted a motion declaring Zionism a form of racism at their conference in Brighton on Sunday. The motion, put forward by activists, passed by 1,022 votes to 813. Israel's foreign ministry called the motion a "clear antisemitic text" that goes beyond "the boundaries of legitimate political debate." A ministry statement on social media said the resolution "legitimising armed struggle against Israel" and calling for a Palestinian state "from the river to the sea" constituted a clear antisemitic text according to the IHRA definition. The motion defines Zionism as an ideology supporting "an ethnonationalist Jewish state" and backs a "single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine." Polanski, who is Jewish, did not take part in the vote, as he was campaigning in north London ahead of Thursday's Holborn and St Pancras by-election. He has declined to condemn the motion.
Backlash Intensifies as Labour MPs Refer Greens to Watchdog
More than a dozen Labour MPs reported the Greens to the equality watchdog on Monday, saying the motion raised "serious questions." Nine Labour MPs have also referred the party to Sussex Police, asking the force to investigate whether alleged "possible antisemitic offences" at the conference merit a criminal investigation. Sussex Police confirmed they received a letter and are reviewing its contents. The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council issued a joint statement saying, "Zionism is anti-racism, creating a refuge for Jews in their ancient homeland after millennia of persecution outside it." They added that branding most British Jews and Jewish institutions "racist" stokes anti-Jewish hatred after a year in which British Jews have been murdered attending synagogue, stabbed in the streets, and seen community buildings firebombed. Israel's foreign ministry called the motion "a stain on the history of the United Kingdom." A Green Party spokesperson said: "We remain committed to upholding our own Code of Conduct and our duties under the Equality Act, and to ensuring the Green Party continues to be a safe place for all members."
Polanski Defends Party Unity Amid Growing Divisions
Polanski responded to the criticism by stating he will not accept anyone being excluded from the Green Party "because of the religious or communal body they are part of." He said "no-one will be made unwelcome because of their background, their faith, or where they worship." The party's joint deputy leaders have been at odds over the subject, with Mothin Ali backing the move and Rachel Millward describing the wording as "problematic." An amendment that would have protected Jewish people from being expelled if they belong to synagogues that define themselves as Zionist failed to pass, with 684 votes in support and 1,026 against. The Jewish Greens, a Jewish group within the party, remain split on the motion. The controversy follows previous internal divisions over the same issue, as reported in Green Party Divided Over 'Zionism Is Racism' Motion as Conference Debate Looms.
Electoral Stakes Rise Ahead of Critical By-Election
The timing of the backlash is particularly damaging for Polanski, who was campaigning in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election when the vote took place. The Guardian's analysis suggests Polanski may regret not using his influence when the party needed him to act. Critics within the party say he could have spoken out about how Greens for Palestine encouraged non-members to sign up specifically to influence the vote. The party has more than tripled in size since Polanski took over, bringing in highly motivated activists focused almost exclusively on Palestine. Entryism can be a problem for parties, but with its cumbersome internal discipline and member-governed policy platform, the Greens are particularly vulnerable. The motion was supported by precisely 1,022 members, or about 0.4% of the total party membership. Some Greens back the current system, saying it generally makes for more considered ideas. The party is a direct democracy, and members decide policy. Polanski's only direct power is one vote on a two dozen-strong executive committee.
Broader Implications for UK Politics and Green Party Identity
The Green Party has become the first mainstream party in Europe to declare itself openly anti-Zionist, a significant shift that could reshape its electoral prospects. The party had planned to vote on the motion at its Spring Conference in March, but multiple no-confidence votes created delays and it was never heard. The decision now places the Greens at odds with the UK's Jewish community and mainstream political parties. The Labour MPs' referral to the equality watchdog and police suggests the controversy may have legal and electoral consequences. For Polanski, who has positioned himself as a unifying figure, the fallout tests his leadership and the party's ability to balance direct democracy with electoral credibility. With a by-election days away, the party faces the immediate challenge of convincing voters that internal divisions will not overshadow its broader policy agenda.
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