Tensions exposed among Greens by 'Zionism is racism' conference vote
The UK Green Party is facing internal and international backlash after a conference vote declared Zionism to be racism. The move has led to the Israeli government banning the party's leader, Zack Polanski, from entering the country.
Why it matters
This highlights the growing friction between grassroots party activism and the pragmatic political stances of elected officials regarding international conflicts.
Image source, Getty Images By Henry Zeffman Chief political correspondent Published 20 minutes ago It is not exactly typical for a British party conference, let alone that of one of the smaller parties, to elicit international condemnation.
Yet that is the position the Green Party of England and Wales is in today after Israel's foreign ministry said it was banning their leader, Zack Polanski, from entering the country.
The cause was the motion proposed by party members and adopted by the conference on Sunday, declaring Zionism, which is the belief in the right to a Jewish homeland, to be racism.
The Green motion describes Zionism as an ideology supporting "an ethnonationalist Jewish state", and supports instead a "single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine".
Also covering this story
5 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
Britain’s Green Party votes to class Zionism as a form of racism
Britain’s Green Party votes to class Zionism as a form of racism
Green Party members back 'Zionism is racism' conference motion
Green party votes to adopt policy that equates Zionism with racism
Israel lashes out as UK’s Green Party formally defines Zionism as ‘racism’
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