Britain's Green Party of England and Wales voted on 4 October 2026 at its annual conference in Brighton to define Zionism as a form of racism and to declare itself an “anti-Zionist party.” The motion passed by 1,022 votes to 813, a margin of roughly 55 percent to 45 percent.
The content of the motion
The resolution defines Zionism as “a political ideology which called for the creation – and, now it exists, the continuity – of an ethnonationalist Jewish State in historic Palestine to the exclusion and/or domination of the non-Jewish population.” It asserts that Zionism's “real, material manifestation” has been the “historic and ongoing dehumanisation, displacement, dispossession, disenfranchisement and destruction of Palestinians,” rooted in European settler-colonial systems of domination. Under the new policy, Zionism is to be treated “as any other form of racism” within the party's anti-racism framework.
The Green Party is declared an “anti-Zionist party.” The motion further commits the party to supporting a single democratic Palestinian state throughout historic Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital, equal rights for all, and the right of return for Palestinians and their descendants. It reaffirms backing for Palestinian liberation, the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement, a full British arms embargo on Israel, opposition to the proscription of Palestine Action, and the Palestinian right to resistance.
The text carefully separates the ideology from Jewish identity, stating that it targets “the political ideology and practice of Zionism, as defined, and not at the religious or ethnic background of those who may identify as Zionists. Not all Jews are Zionists and not all Zionists are Jews.” An amendment designed to protect Jewish members affiliated with synagogues or other institutions that describe themselves as Zionist from disciplinary action was rejected by conference.
Internal divisions
The vote exposed significant internal divisions. Party leader Zack Polanski, who is Jewish, did not participate; he had left the conference early to campaign in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. He has previously described the “displacement and genocide of the Palestine people” as “clearly racism.” Four of the party's five MPs, including former leaders Adrian Ramsay and Carla Denyer as well as Ellie Chowns and Sian Berry, publicly opposed or expressed deep concern about the motion. Joint deputy leaders were split, with Mothin Ali supporting it and Rachel Millward describing the wording as “problematic.”
After the result, Polanski and the MPs issued a joint statement stressing that the party upholds universal human rights, will never tolerate discrimination or harassment, continues to oppose genocide, ethnic cleansing, apartheid and illegal occupation, and recognises that “there is no conflict between supporting the rights of Palestinians and the rights of Jewish people.” A party spokesperson called the debate “serious and deeply felt,” noting that conference had exercised its right to decide policy while reaffirming the Green's long-standing opposition to the occupation and arms sales to Israel.