UK Green Leader Banned From Israel Over ‘Zionism Is Racism’ Policy

2 min read

The British Green Party’s leader, Zack Polanski, has been banned from entering Israel after his party adopted a motion labeling ‘Zionism as racism’ as official policy. The motion, passed at the party’s annual conference in Brighton, calls for the ‘treatment of Zionism as any other form of racism’ and advocates for a ‘single Palestinian state,’ effectively calling for the destruction of Israel.

Policy and Israel’s Response

The motion, now official Green Party policy, also states that Zionism is ‘based upon European settler-colonial systems of domination and oppression,’ and it ‘has created racial hierarchies between Jews of different ethnicities in Palestine.’ It further describes Zionism as representing the ‘historic and ongoing dehumanisation, displacement, dispossession, disenfranchisement and destruction of Palestinians.’

Israel’s Foreign Ministry condemned the motion, stating that the party ‘gives legitimacy to terrorism.’ The ministry claimed the Greens have ‘adopted not only the green of Hamas, but also its ideology: the elimination of the State of Israel through armed struggle.’ The motion was also described as ‘legitimising armed struggle, calling for a Palestinian state ‘from the river to the sea’ — meaning the destruction of the State of Israel — and labels as ‘racist’ the aspiration of the Jewish people for self-determination.’

Political Backlash and Internal Rifts

Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid also criticized the motion, calling it a ‘sign that Jewish people aren’t welcome in the party.’ Polanski, who is Jewish, did not attend the vote as he was campaigning for the Holborn & St Pancras by-election. He had previously sought to hedge his support, stating that he would only support the motion if the wording calling for a single Palestinian state was removed.

Despite his efforts, the motion has caused a rift within the party between its traditional base of left-wing environmentalists and the recent influx of Muslims disaffected with the Labour Party. While some, like Deputy leader Mothin Ali, supported the motion, others, such as former party leader Caroline Lucas, condemned it as ‘divisive.’

Leadership Challenges

Polanski, who oversaw a resurgence in the Greens’ popularity, is facing growing questions about his leadership. With a potential loss in the Holborn & St Pancras by-election, some suggest he may be ousted as Green leader. Polanski denied that his leadership is determined by a victory, stating his position ‘doesn’t depend on it whatsoever.’

Source: Breitbart

Written by

Connor Davis