The short version
- Israel has banned Zack Polanski from entry following a Green Party motion defining Zionism as racism.
- The vote exposed sharp divisions between party activists, elected officials, and Jewish members.
- Jewish organizations condemned the measure, warning it fuels hatred against an already targeted community.
Israel’s foreign ministry has officially banned Zack Polanski, the leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, from entering the country. The decision follows a contentious vote at the party’s annual conference in Brighton, where members adopted a motion declaring Zionism to be a form of racism. Israeli officials characterized the text as clearly antisemitic and argued it fell outside the acceptable bounds of legitimate political discourse. The ban marks a significant escalation in tensions between the UK political group and the Israeli government.
The motion, which passed with 1,022 votes to 813, defines Zionism as an ideology supporting an ethnonationalist Jewish state. It further advocates for a single democratic Palestinian state across historic Palestine. Proponents of the measure argued that it addresses what they described as the material manifestations of Zionist policy, including the displacement and disenfranchisement of Palestinians. Lubna Speitan, the Green member who introduced the motion, stated that supporters sought to oppose racist systems of oppression without exception.
Polanski did not participate in the vote, having left the conference early to campaign in a by-election for the Holborn and St Pancras constituency. Prior to the vote, he expressed reservations about specific wording, suggesting amendments to clarify that the party should not dictate future settlement outcomes or discipline Jewish members who attend Zionist synagogues. Both of his proposed changes were rejected by the membership. While Polanski has not explicitly endorsed the final text, he added his name to a joint statement issued by the party’s MPs and deputy leaders pledging to remain an anti-racist organization that respects both Palestinian and Jewish rights.
The controversy has fractured the party’s leadership and membership base. Deputy leader Mothin Ali supported the motion, while co-deputy leader Rachel Millward described its wording as problematic. Four of the party’s five MPs—Ellie Chowns, Adrian Ramsay, Carla Denyer, and Sian Berry—publicly opposed the measure. Denyer warned that the resolution could alienate a significant portion of Jewish people, while former leader Caroline Lucas urged members against supporting what she called an oversimplification that ignores complexity and makes Jewish members feel unwelcome.
Jewish community organizations have reacted with alarm to the vote. The Board of Deputies of British Jews and the Jewish Leadership Council issued a joint statement condemning the motion as an attack on the Jewish community. They argued that labeling most British Jews and their institutions as racist stokes anti-Jewish hatred, particularly in a year marked by violent incidents against synagogues and community members. The groups specifically criticized Polanski for neither speaking against nor voting on the motion, though they noted broader cross-party condemnation of the resolution.
Internal anxiety within the Green Party is evident among its Jewish members. Vivien Lichtenstein, chairwoman of Jewish Greens, indicated she might reconsider her future in the party following the vote’s approval. A Green spokeswoman insisted that the organization would protect Jewish members and ensure they would not face persecution for attending synagogues that identify as Zionist. Despite these assurances, the debate has dominated conference proceedings, highlighting a growing rift between the party’s newly expanded activist base and its elected representatives.
The incident underscores the difficulty of navigating complex geopolitical issues within domestic political structures. While supporters of the motion frame it as a necessary stance against oppression, critics view it as a dangerous conflation that endangers Jewish safety and cohesion. The Israeli government’s response, describing the motion as a stain on UK history, signals potential diplomatic friction. As the Green Party attempts to reconcile these opposing viewpoints, the immediate consequence remains Polanski’s exclusion from Israel and the ongoing uncertainty regarding the party’s direction on Middle East policy.
Looking ahead, the resolution will likely influence how the Green Party engages with Jewish communities and international partners. The rejection of Polanski’s amendments suggests a strong activist preference for uncompromising language, even at the cost of internal unity. With by-election campaigning underway and broader political scrutiny intensifying, the party faces pressure to clarify its stance without further alienating key constituencies. The situation remains fluid as leaders attempt to balance ideological commitments with practical political realities.
Sources behind this briefing
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- BBC News↗Polanski banned from Israel after party's motion declaring 'Zionism is racism'
