Members at the annual conference in Brighton adopted a resolution declaring Zionism an ethnonationalist project to be treated as any other form of racism.
The approved policy document calls for a single Palestinian state in place of Israel with equal rights for all residents.
Delegates rejected an amendment intended to protect members from disciplinary action or proscription based on their ties to Jewish community institutions.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski missed the vote in Brighton while campaigning for an upcoming parliamentary byelection in Holborn and St Pancras.
Members of the Green Party of England and Wales voted on Sunday to adopt a policy that defines Zionism as racism. The motion, titled "Zionism is racism", passed at the annual conference in Brighton with 1,022 votes in favour and 813 votes against. Under the new policy, the party formally categorises Zionism as an ethnonationalist political project and resolves that it should be treated as any other form of racism. The adopted text also calls for a single Palestinian state in place of Israel with equal rights for all residents. Following the tally, the measure officially became the formal platform position for the party across England and Wales.
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The motion text specifies that its focus is directed at political ideology and practice rather than religious or ethnic heritage. It argues that Zionism is inherently discriminatory because it privileges one ethnic group on the basis of the subjugation of others, while specifying that not all Jews are Zionists and not all Zionists are Jews. Conference delegates also approved an amendment requiring other party policy documents to be updated in accordance with the new resolution. The motion is set to be implemented by the Anti-Racism Policy Working Group in accordance with ordinary party practice. However, delegates rejected three other proposed amendments, including a safeguard intended to clarify that the policy should not be used to discipline, pressure, or proscribe members based on their affiliations with Jewish community institutions.
The adoption followed an initiative by the internal grouping Greens for Palestine, which encouraged non-members to join the party to support the debate and passage of the text. Some Jewish members expressed concern that the decision could make continued membership in the party difficult. A survey conducted by the Jewish Greens organisation recorded a division among its members over whether to oppose the motion, with 81% of respondents stating they do not identify as Zionist. Party leader Zack Polanski, who is Jewish, was not present for the vote in Brighton due to campaign commitments in Holborn and St Pancras ahead of a parliamentary byelection next week.
In an official statement released after the vote, party leadership addressed the debate and reiterated existing foreign policy positions on the Middle East.
“This has been a serious and deeply felt debate within our membership. Our members value the ability to bring forward and decide party policy, and conference has now made its decision.”
The party spokesperson also reaffirmed the organization's wider stance regarding international conflicts and human rights.
“The Green Party is an anti-racist party and has consistently opposed the illegal occupation of both Palestinian and Syrian land, called for an end to arms sales to the Israeli government and spoken out fearlessly about the devastating situation in Gaza and the West Bank. Those positions remain central to our approach. So too does our deeply held commitment to equality, justice and human rights for all and opposition to racism in all its forms.”
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Green Party members voted 1,022 to 813 at their annual conference in Brighton to adopt formal policy defining Zionism as racism and calling for a single Palestinian state.
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