Understand
Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer describes Zionism as racist following UK Green Party motion
Overview
Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer has stated that he considers Zionism and the creation of Israel to be racist, echoing a controversial motion recently passed by the Green Party of England and Wales. The motion has drawn sharp criticism from Jewish groups, Israeli officials, and political opponents including Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, who called Greer's remarks dangerous. Meanwhile, senior figures within the Green movement, including four of its MPs and the European Green Party, have distanced themselves from the vote.
Key points
- Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer stated on BBC Radio Scotland that he considers Zionism and the creation of Israel to be racist.
- Greer's comments follow a motion passed at the England and Wales Green Party conference defining Zionism as supporting an ethnonationalist Jewish state.
- Jewish groups and Israel's foreign ministry strongly condemned the motion and Greer's remarks, describing them as an attack on the Jewish community and a stain on the UK's history.
- Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay described Greer's comments as 'disgusting and dangerous'.
- First Minister John Swinney disagreed with the Green motion, stating that established legal definitions of racism should be used instead.
- The European Green Party and four of the five Green Party MPs distanced themselves from or opposed the motion.