Green Party Leader Defends Motion Equating Zionism With Racism

The leader of the Green Party in England and Wales, Zack Polanski, defended a party motion equating Zionism with racism during a BBC interview on October 18, 2026. Polanski described Zionism in its practical application as a racist ideology and basic colonialism that has led to the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians. He further asserted that no state has a right to exist under international law, arguing that only people possess such a right.

While Polanski expressed a desire to eventually amend the policy to move away from a one state solution, he refused to overturn the motion immediately, citing his respect for the democratic will of party members. The motion was originally approved at a Green Party conference in Brighton.

Polanski's comments have triggered internal and external backlash. Vivien Lichtenstein, head of the Jewish Greens, called for Polanski's resignation. Simultaneously, the Labour Party issued an ultimatum to local Green coalition groups, demanding they disown the motion or lose support. These controversies coincide with a period of decline for Polanski, who recently lost a by-election in Holborn and St Pancras and has seen a drop in public favorability ratings.