Board of Deputies Declares Green Party a Racist Party

The Board of Deputies of British Jews voted 118 to one on Sunday to declare the Green Party of England and Wales a racist party. The decision follows a vote at the Green Party conference in Brighton, where members passed a motion by 1,022 to 813 stating that Zionism would be treated as a form of racism under the party's anti-racism policy.

The motion, proposed by the internal group Greens 4 Palestine, was endorsed by Green Party leader Zack Polanski. Polanski argued that Zionism, which the motion defines as the displacement and genocide of the Palestinian people, is clearly racism. A party spokesperson added that the motion reflects political opposition to ethnic cleansing and that the party does not discriminate against those holding Zionist views.

Phil Rosenberg, president of the Board of Deputies, stated that the platform is antisemitic and provides a political license for prejudice against Jews. The Board urged other political parties to avoid coalitions with the Greens unless local leadership commits to overturning the policy. In response, the Labour Party issued an ultimatum to local Green coalition partners, demanding they disown the motion or lose support.

International condemnation followed the resolution, with Israel's Foreign Ministry and President Isaac Herzog rejecting the claim and describing Zionism as the national liberation movement of the Jewish people. Polanski stated he would not overturn the motion, which remains party policy until 2028, though he expressed a desire to make amendments.