A motion declaring Zionism is racism has been selected for debate at the Green Party’s spring conference later this month.
The motion, titled “Zionism is Racism”, passed an internal prioritisation ballot, meaning it is likely to be heard on March 28, although it may yet fall off the agenda if other motions take up time.
A Green Party source said it was “likely” the motion would be debated later this month.
If adopted, the Greens would become the first UK party to formally define Zionism – the belief in Jewish self-determination – as a racist ideology.
The motion also backs “the right of the Palestinian people to resistance and liberation from Israeli occupation, domination and subjugation”.
Pro-Palestine campaigners within the Green Party are now urging activists to join the party to vote for the anti-Zionist motion.
In a video shared online, Greens for Palestine member, Tariq Khawaja, said: “We did it – our motion, ‘Zionism is racism’ has succeeded in passing the prioritisation ballot. We are going to Spring Conference, we are on the agenda.
“Your votes, your solidarity, your activism has all led to this moment and have made this possible. Our motion declaring the Green Party as an anti-Zionist party will be debated at Spring Conference on March 28. This is just the beginning though; now we need to make sure that it passes.”
He encouraged followers to join the Green Party and attend the online conference to vote on the motion.
“If you’re not already a member of the Green Party, then join… Your vote will make sure that you have a say and it will determine whether we declare the Green Party as anti-Zionist,” he said.
An antizionist Green Party activist encouraging people to join the party to vote for the controversial motion[Missing Credit]
“Bring your friends, share this with fellow Greens who also care about justice; this is our moment to show the Green Party stands on the right side of history – against apartheid, against occupation, and for Palestinian liberation – don’t let this opportunity slip through your fingers,” he said.
The campaign has also been promoted by the Palestine Pulse social media account – a page with 66,000 followers and which has posted videos of the Al Quds Day march and the chant “death to the IDF,” as well as a post claiming that “freedom” has been “controlled by Zionism”.
Party leader, Zack Polanski, who is Jewish and grew up in a Zionist household, has faced criticism after suggesting he might support a version of the motion.
Speaking on LBC recently, he said: “When the idea of Zionism was created, that was about making sure there was a peaceful place for people to live.”
Asked if he personally believed Zionism is racist, he responded: “It depends what you mean by Zionism.”
He added that the version of Zionism put forward by the current Israeli government “is racist” and any supporters of “Benjamin Netanyahu’s genocide” are racist – but said he would “listen carefully” to the debate.
Polanski also stressed that antisemitism was an issue he took “seriously”, saying “as a Jewish person, I think that it’s really important that I speak out against antisemitism.”
Asked if he believed in a single Palestinian state, Polanski responded “no”, before adding “but it’s up to the Palestinian and Israeli people ultimately what their self-sovereignty looks like”.
The Jewish Green group – co-founded by Polanksi – has encouraged party members to vote against the motion.
The group said the motion was a “worrying step-change” and had “authoritarian” implications that would, in effect, “proscribe members who consider themselves (or who others accuse of being) Zionists.”
In a message posted to the Jewish Green website, the group said Zionism is a “vague” term – and many who define as Zionist oppose “everything” the state of Israel is doing.
“Calling all forms or interpretations of Zionism ‘racism’ is painting a very diverse group of people with a very broad brush and in effect, it accepts the most extreme right-wing version of Zionism (aka Kahanism) peddled by the far right as definitive. This is like accepting the EDL’s definition of Englishness,” it said.
It warned the motion could “give the party the option to expel almost any Jew involved in organised communal life”.
The motion has also drawn criticism from outside the party. Israel’s deputy foreign minister, Sharren Haskel, described it as “one of the most hateful and racist documents I’ve ever read”.
UK Lawyers for Israel said the proposal is “legally flawed and risks discrimination against Jewish members”.
UKLFI chief executive, Jonathan Turner, said the motion “risks labelling many Jewish members as racists simply because of their beliefs about Jewish self-determination.
“Political parties are of course entitled to debate difficult international issues. But they should do so in a way that is historically accurate, legally sound and respectful of all their members,” Turner said.
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