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Jewish Greens chair Vivien Lichtenstein considers leaving party over 'Zionism is racism' motion
Overview
The chair of Jewish Greens, Vivien Lichtenstein, has stated that it is "quite possible" she will leave the party after members at the Green Party conference in Brighton voted to adopt a motion declaring Zionism a form of racism. The motion also supports a single democratic Palestinian state across historic Palestine and defines Zionism as an ideology supporting an ethnonationalist Jewish state. The decision has drawn heavy criticism from Jewish groups, Israel's foreign ministry, and other UK political parties, while dividing senior Green figures.
Key points
- Vivien Lichtenstein, chair of Jewish Greens, said it is "quite possible" she will leave the party following the adoption of the motion.
- Green Party members voted 1,022 to 813 to endorse the policy motion at their conference in Brighton.
- The motion defines Zionism as an ideology supporting an ethnonationalist Jewish state and backs a single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine.
- The motion has been strongly condemned by the Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council, the Movement for Progressive Judaism, and Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis, who labelled it antisemitic.
- Israel's foreign ministry responded by banning Green Party leader Zack Polanski from entering the country.
- Other UK political parties, including Labour and the Conservatives, criticised the motion and the Green Party's position.