Israel lashes out as UK’s Green Party formally defines Zionism as ‘racism’

What the report says

Israel and British Jewish organizations condemned the UK Green Party after delegates voted at the party’s conference to define Zionism as a form of racism. The vote, reported on 4 October 2026, came from a party that won about 6% of the vote in the 2024 UK national election and has five MPs in the 650-seat House of Commons. The motion passed by 1,022 votes to 813.

According to Al Jazeera’s report, the Greens described Zionism as an ethnonationalist political project and reaffirmed support for Palestinian liberation, the right of return, Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions, and a full arms embargo on Israel. The party also restated its preference for a single democratic state across historic Palestine. Party leader Zack Polanski did not vote, while co-deputy leader Mothin Ali said the war in Gaza and Israel’s wider military campaign formed the backdrop to the decision.

Israel’s foreign ministry said the resolution crossed the line into legitimizing terrorism and urged other British parties to denounce it. President Isaac Herzog called the move disgraceful and warned that the slogan “Zionism is racism” endangers Jews and Israelis. The Movement for Progressive Judaism in Britain also criticized the vote, saying it had made antisemitism party policy.

More broadly, the dispute reflects how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict continues to shape party politics and debate in Britain. The Green Party’s stance is likely to intensify arguments over antisemitism, anti-Zionism, and support for Palestinians, especially as the war in Gaza remains central to public discussion.