Equality watchdog writes to Greens over 'Zionism is racism' motion
The UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission has contacted the Green Party regarding a controversial motion labeling Zionism as racism. The party faces pressure from political allies and Jewish groups to address potential discrimination concerns arising from the motion.
Why it matters
This highlights the ongoing tension between political discourse on the Middle East and domestic anti-discrimination laws in the UK.
Image source, PA Media Image caption, Green leader Zack Polanski said the motion was 'imperfect' but supported the substance of it
The equality watchdog has written to the Green Party asking for more information about a controversial "Zionism is racism" motion passed by members.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said it recognised that "many Jewish people will be feeling vulnerable" following the motion, passed at the party's conference earlier this month.
The motion described Zionism as an ideology supporting "an ethnonationalist Jewish state in historic Palestine to the exclusion and/or domination of the non-Jewish population".
In a response to the ECHR letter, the party said it "will not discriminate against or exclude people for holding Zionist views" and was committed to tackling antisemitism.
Dozens of Labour and Lib Dem MPs and Jewish campaigners wrote to the regulator raising concerns about antisemitism after the Green motion was passed.
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