I won't accept exclusion within Green Party, says Polanski after criticism of Zionism motion
Green Party leader Zack Polanski has spoken out against the exclusion of members following a controversial party motion that defined Zionism as a form of racism. The motion has triggered a significant backlash, including referrals to the equality watchdog and police by Labour MPs.
Why it matters
The internal conflict highlights the intense political polarization surrounding the definition of Zionism and antisemitism within UK political parties.
Share Save Add as preferred on Google Ewan Somerville , Political reporter and Harry Farley , Political correspondent EPA/Shutterstock Green Party leader Zack Polanski did not take part in the vote on Sunday Zack Polanski has said he will not accept anyone being excluded from the Green Party "because of the religious or communal body they are part of", after members adopted a motion declaring Zionism a form of racism.
The Green leader said "no-one will be made unwelcome because of their background, their faith, or where they worship".
The motion defines Zionism as an ideology supporting "an ethnonationalist Jewish state" and backs a "single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine".
More than a dozen Labour MPs reported the Greens to the equality watchdog on Monday, saying it raised "serious questions".
Also covering this story
5 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
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Britain’s Green Party votes to class Zionism as a form of racism
Green party votes to adopt policy that equates Zionism with racism
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