Why I Have A Real Problem With The Green Party's Zionism Vote

Galvanised by its principles, its energy, inclusion and vision, I became a member of the Green Party of England and Wales earlier this year. I have been very excited by it, so each month I donate what I can afford. For me, being a member and seeing the party thrive is a big deal as I've never joined a political party before.

I liked the Green's idea that policies are formed from the grassroots upwards, and not just imposed by the leadership. I thought: lots of opportunity here to be involved. In fact, it is a great idea, if everyone is going to get their chance to have a say about any new policy. But, speaking as a female member of a minority group, to have a motion passed by just over 1000 people, which is then imposed on the rest of the 200,000+ members as official party policy, is not fair, nor inclusive, unless the Green Party wishes to continually include, or notice, only those with the loudest voices!

Let's be clear about what happened. At the 2026 conference early October, the Green Party voted to adopt a controversial policy motion that formally defined Zionism as a form of racism.  The motion was passed by just 1,022 votes to 813 on October 4. It was proposed by a British-Palestinian artist, and backed by groups like Greens for Palestine. The resolution declared the Green Party to be explicitly "anti-Zionist," stating that Zionism should be treated like any other form of racism, and calls for a single Palestinian state in place of Israel (this part being flawed when dealing with two nations.) 

Of course, there was heavy criticism of the decision, with most of the party's MPs opposing the motion. The ensuing backlash has been immense, becoming a self-inflicted wound no developing party should expose itself to.  With that motion, I think the party has shot itself in the foot. 

At the time, I found it strange, and even incomprehensible, that while our leader, Zack Polanski, was busy fighting for a seat in the Commons to lead the party from there, the members were holding a controversial conference instead of helping him in the campaign. Conferences come each year, but being a candidate in such an important seat in the Holborn by-election was even more important 2026. Instead members were busy being divisive!

Some Pertinent Questions

Furthermore, it is simply wrong to commit the whole party to a policy for two years when virtually all the members had no say in it. Where is the democracy? Perhaps it was there for a few individuals, but I have asked myself these last few weeks, what's the point of being a member when someone else is always deciding for me? After all, I have received no invitation to back the vote, or reject it. Yet it is now supposed to be party policy for the next two years to which we all have to adhere.

Regardless of what I think about the policy, the way it came about did not make me want to keep supporting the Green Party, because it alienated many of the people who would also support us in our vision. I would have welcomed a motion regarding Israel's actions of inflicting atrocities on all the people of Gaza, using them as collateral damage. That point is extremely important and cannot be ignored by any decent human being 

The best thing the Green Party of England & Wales can do now to remedy the situation is to ballot every member on this motion, and then implement the result, whatever its is. As a paid up member, I had no vote, so how can I accept as right or correct what was decided on my behalf by people who don't necessarily speak for me? 

I joined the Green Party because of its message of hope and common sense, and believe passionately that Zack Polanski is one of the most brilliant level-headed speakers and persuaders in any British party. But the Green Party can only change things when it gets the power to do so, and we're not helping ourselves with such insular, and inappropriate, actions that might damage the party's credibility, aims and progress.