The Green Party in the United Kingdom has come under intense criticism following the adoption of a controversial motion at its recent party conference, in which Zionism was labeled a form of racism. This decision, passed by a margin of 1,026 votes to 684, has sparked backlash from members, political figures, and observers who argue it has driven the party toward antisemitism.

The motion’s passage included the rejection of an amendment designed to protect Jewish members who attend synagogues that reference Israel in their prayers. According to reports, some Jewish delegates were forced to seek refuge in a designated “safe room” during the conference amid heightened tensions. Critics say the motion casts doubt on the safety and acceptance of Jewish people in Britain, particularly as the country prepares for the Holborn & St Pancras by-election.

Several party members and former affiliates have distanced themselves from the Greens following the vote. Kieran Dams, a Green councillor in Merseyside, announced he would sit as an independent, citing his disapproval of the party’s direction. Sandy Ruthven, chair of Amnesty International UK, also declared his resignation from the Greens over the issue, and former party leader Caroline Lucas has been urged to take a stronger stance against the motion and its proponents within the party.

Within the party’s leadership, there has been limited and cautious condemnation. Co-deputy leader Rachel Millward stated that antisemitism has no place within the Greens, yet four of the five Green MPs opposed to the motion did not act decisively to prevent its passage. Meanwhile, co-deputy leader Mothin Ali, a Leeds councillor, has drawn further criticism for previous social media comments in support of Hamas fighters, describing them as “indigenous people defending themselves,” and celebrating electoral victories with an “Allahu Akbar” exclamation—all of which has compounded concerns about the party’s stance on Israel and Jewish issues.

These developments have also caught the attention of the broader European Green movement. Ciarán Cuffe, co-chair of the European Green Party, has reportedly sought urgent dialogue with the UK party. German Green Party leaders have publicly condemned the motion as “intolerable and unacceptable,” signaling potential rifts within the pan-European alliance.

Political observers note that the Greens’ popularity has declined following these events. Earlier this year, the party appeared to be gaining momentum, evidenced by a by-election win in Gorton & Denton and polling figures that put it close to the Conservative Party. Since the conference, however, the Greens’ support has dropped to around 10 percent nationally.

Meanwhile, Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who is Jewish and has publicly identified with his heritage, faced criticism for his perceived failure to repudiate the motion. Polanski reportedly left the party conference prior to the vote and later refrained from calling for its reversal, leading some to accuse him of abandoning his roots and enabling extremist elements within the party.

Opponents of the Greens’ direction argue that the party’s current trajectory risks normalizing antisemitism and undermining long-standing progressive principles. They have called on political leaders across the spectrum, including Labour’s Keir Starmer and Conservative figures like Kemi Badenoch, to rule out any coalition arrangements with the Green Party in future governments.

The controversy arrives amidst a broader context of rising antisemitic incidents in the UK, with nearly 2,000 hate-related episodes reported in the first half of the year, as well as violent attacks targeting Jewish individuals. Critics warn that the Greens’ internal shift puts British Jews under further strain, challenging the notion of a safe and inclusive society.

As the party approaches key elections, its future remains uncertain, with calls for a breakaway from the current leadership and the formation of a new political entity focused solely on environmental issues and mainstream progressive values. Supporters of such a realignment contend it could restore faith among voters disillusioned by what they view as the Green Party’s departure from its original mission.