Green Party members in the United Kingdom face potential internal disciplinary measures if found to belong to synagogues or Jewish organisations that identify as Zionist, under a contentious motion set to be voted on at the party’s conference this weekend in Brighton. The motion seeks to classify all forms of Zionism—the movement historically linked to the establishment of Israel as a Jewish state—as a form of racism.

At a recent party workshop, a proposed amendment aiming to protect Jewish members who attend self-declared Zionist institutions from accusations of racism was rejected by a significant margin. The amendment was intended to clarify that membership in such synagogues or groups should not trigger internal reports or disciplinary procedures.

Sam Alston, a Jewish Green Party member who spoke against the motion, argued that penalising members for attending Zionist synagogues would amount to indirect religious discrimination. Alston noted that a substantial majority of British Jews identify as Zionist, citing data from the Institute for Jewish Policy Research which shows 65 percent of British Jews identified as Zionist in 2024, compared to 10 percent who described themselves as anti-Zionist. He emphasized that the amendment aimed to reaffirm the party’s commitment to freedom of religion and opposition to all forms of discrimination.

Alston also highlighted concerns that the motion conflates Zionism with Judaism itself. He recounted an incident during the workshop in which his brother—an outspoken anti-Zionist Jew—was immediately labeled “Zionist” simply because of his Jewish identity. He warned that rejecting the amendment could send a damaging signal to Jewish members within the party.

Despite these concerns, the amendment was defeated in a straw poll, receiving 24 votes in favour and 67 against. The existing motion, if passed, would treat Zionism as equivalent to other forms of racism, enabling internal party reports and potential disciplinary action ranging from warnings to expulsion for members perceived as engaging in Zionist activities.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism, which monitored the workshop, condemned the motion as an effective “litmus test” for Jewish party members, arguing it would unfairly characterize Zionist Jews and mainstream British Jewish organizations as inherently racist. The group criticized party leaders for not opposing the motion more forcefully and called for the expulsion of its proponents.

A Green Party spokesperson stated that the safety of all members remains a priority and highlighted that the party’s democratic structure allows members to propose and set policy, distinguishing it from other political parties. The outcome of the vote at the upcoming conference will determine whether the motion is adopted as official party policy.