Israel expressed fury on Sunday after the United Kingdom’s Green Party voted to classify Zionism as a form of racism, a move that drew sharp rebukes from Israeli officials and British Jewish organizations.
The Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement declaring that the left-leaning Greens were effectively granting “legitimacy to terrorism” through their new policy position. Writing on social media, the ministry argued that the party had adopted not only the color green but also the ideology of Hamas, which it accused the Greens of supporting through calls for the elimination of Israel via armed struggle.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog described the resolution as “a disgrace and a shame,” accusing its proponents of perpetuating an antisemitic falsehood that endangers Jewish and Israeli communities worldwide. Opposition leader Yair Lapid countered that it was the Green Party itself that exhibited racist tendencies, stating, “It is not Zionism that’s racism, it is the Green Party.”
The Motion for Progressive Judaism, a British organization, asserted that the party had institutionalized antisemitism and become racist. While acknowledging that some Jewish members supported the motion, the group warned that such support would not prevent the resolution from being used to discriminate against others.
The Green Party, which secured 6 percent of the vote in the 2024 UK national elections, passed the resolution by a margin of 1,022 to 813. In addition to defining Zionism as an “ethnonationalist political project,” the party reaffirmed its commitment to Palestinian liberation, the right of return, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, and a complete arms embargo against Israel. The statement also reiterated support for establishing a single democratic state across historic Palestine.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who is contesting the parliamentary seat held by former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, abstained from the vote. Co-deputy leader Mothin Ali told Sky News that the decision was made against the backdrop of what he described as Israel’s “genocidal war on Gaza” and its ongoing military operations.
Following the vote, Polanski and other Green Party members released a joint statement pledging to continue opposing what they termed genocide, ethnic cleansing, apartheid, and illegal occupation, while vowing to highlight what they called the “heinous crimes” of the Netanyahu government. The Greens currently hold five seats in the 650-member UK parliament.
The vote margin shows deep internal debate. Hope dialogue can still happen between these communities despite the anger.
Herzog’s response was fierce. ‘Legitimizing terrorism’ is a heavy accusation. Is this rhetoric helping anyone right now?
Calling Zionism racism seems like a dangerous oversimplification. Doesn’t this just fuel more division rather than peace?
Honestly, given the scenes in Gaza, I’m not entirely surprised by the Green Party’s position. It reflects growing public sentiment.
This escalates things significantly. How will the UK government respond to its own party adopting such a stance?