Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party in England and Wales, has affirmed that he will not overturn a recent party motion declaring Zionism in its current form to be racist, though he plans to seek amendments to it in 2028. The motion, passed at the Green Party conference earlier this month, sparked intense debate and criticism both within and outside the party.

Polanski, who did not attend the conference vote, defended the motion and his handling of the controversy in an interview, describing the debate over the definition of Zionism as primarily “semantics.” He stated that the practical application of Zionism, particularly in relation to the violence and displacement experienced by Palestinians, constitutes racism. Polanski highlighted the recent deaths and injuries among Palestinians, including children, as evidence of this stance.

The party leader declined to affirm that Israel has a right to exist, stating that no state has such a right under international law but that “people have a right to exist.” When asked about a two-state solution, Polanski expressed support for whatever outcome enables Israelis and Palestinians to live side by side with equal rights, without endorsing any fixed political framework.

Polanski’s position has drawn criticism from several Jewish groups and some members of the Green Party, including Vivien Lichtenstein, head of the Jewish Greens, who has called on him to resign. Polanski, who co-founded the Jewish Greens alongside Lichtenstein, noted that the majority of Jewish Greens members supported the motion in party surveys and emphasized that Lichtenstein’s opposition was her individual view, not necessarily representing the wider group.

The controversy also affected the Green Party’s political standing and relationships with other parties. Polanski was criticized by some within the party for campaigning in the Holborn and St Pancras parliamentary by-election instead of attending the party conference where the motion was debated. The Greens lost the by-election to Labour, and Labour leaders have threatened to withdraw from power-sharing agreements in councils where both Greens and Labour hold influence, citing the Green Party’s position on Zionism as a concern.

Polanski responded that decisions about continuing power-sharing arrangements should be made by local Green councillors according to the preferences of their constituents, rather than dictated from party leadership.

Looking ahead, Polanski said he intends to propose changes to the current motion during the 2028 conference, particularly regarding the call for a single state in “historic Palestine.” He indicated a preference for allowing Israelis and Palestinians to determine their own future arrangement rather than endorsing a one-state solution as party policy.

Since assuming leadership in September last year, Polanski has sought to shift the Green Party’s focus toward economically populist policies and a more pronounced stance on issues related to Palestine and Gaza. His initial rise in polls was followed by a decline amid the recent internal controversies, unresolved questions about his tax affairs, and a public dispute involving police after an attack in Golders Green. Nevertheless, Polanski remains confident that voters will return to the Greens as political dynamics evolve under Labour’s Andy Burnham.