The UK Green Party is facing internal turmoil following the adoption of a controversial motion declaring "Zionism is racism," a decision that has sparked widespread criticism and raised concerns about the party’s direction and leadership. The motion, passed at the party’s recent conference, implicitly challenges the legitimacy of the state of Israel and has been condemned by senior party figures and external observers as divisive and discriminatory.

Zack Polanski, the party leader and a Jewish member himself, has come under significant scrutiny for his decision to abstain from voting on the motion while simultaneously prioritizing a by-election campaign in the Holborn and St Pancras constituency. He was defeated by Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali, who secured a 3,000-vote lead. Polanski’s failure to attend the conference vote and his subsequent election loss have prompted calls from within the Green Party for him to step down. Caroline Lucas, the party’s first MP and former leader, described Polanski’s absence from the vote as a leadership failure and called the motion “flawed,” “divisive,” and “dangerous.” Similarly, Ellie Chowns, Green Party leader in the House of Commons, criticized the lack of leadership during the vote and expressed concern about the party’s vulnerability to influence from extremist elements.

Among the Jewish Greens, Vivien Lichtenstein described Polanski’s conduct as a “dereliction of duty,” urging his resignation. Meanwhile, former deputy leader Shahhar Ali, currently suspended, characterized the election result as a reflection of the electorate’s rejection of what he described as an “anti-Semitism crisis” engulfing the party.

The “Zionism is racism” motion has not only deepened factional divides but also raised serious legal questions. Critics argue the policy openly discriminates against Jewish members and supporters of Israel, equating Jewish self-determination with racism. The party’s internal rules further complicate the situation by preventing any significant amendment or repeal of the motion until at least 2028, limiting the ability of current leadership or members to reverse the decision in the near term. This has prompted warnings that the policy could prompt legal challenges and investigations by the Equality and Human Rights Commission.

Polanski has acknowledged the controversy and indicated a willingness to seek changes to the policy at future conferences, emphasizing his desire for Israelis and Palestinians to determine their own future. However, he has declined to explicitly affirm Israel’s right to exist, a position that has further unsettled party members and observers.

Despite growing dissent, some within the Green Party maintain support for Polanski, highlighting the expansion of party membership under his leadership and portraying the Greens as the only major UK party fully aligned with Palestinian liberation goals. The ongoing division raises questions about the party’s ability to reconcile its environmental platform with the contentious political issues that have recently come to the fore, amid intensifying scrutiny both within the party and from the public.