The UK Green party has formally adopted a policy equating Zionism with racism after a vote at its annual conference in Brighton, prompting condemnation from Israel and alarm among some Jewish members.
Key facts
- The Green party voted to adopt a policy that equates Zionism with racism.
- The motion passed by 1,022 votes to 813 at the party's annual conference in Brighton.
- The motion calls for Zionism, the movement for a Jewish state, to be 'treated as any other form of racism'.
- The move has alarmed some Jewish members and is expected to dismay the bulk of the party's MPs.
- Israel described the decision as a 'stain on the history of the UK', according to the Guardian.
The UK Green party has formally adopted a policy which equates Zionism with racism, following a vote at the party’s annual conference in Brighton, according to the Guardian. The move has alarmed some Jewish members and is expected to dismay the bulk of the party’s MPs.
The vote took place on Sunday and concerned a motion which calls for Zionism, described as the movement for a Jewish state, to be “treated as any other form of racism”. The motion passed by 1,022 votes to 813.
The Guardian reported that the policy’s formal adoption represents a significant shift for the party. The outcome drew a reaction from Israel, which, according to the Guardian, condemned the decision as a “stain on the history of the UK”.
The vote has exposed tensions within the party, with the Guardian noting that the policy will dismay the bulk of the party’s MPs and has caused concern among some Jewish members.
The decision came during the Green party’s annual gathering in Brighton, where a range of policy motions were debated and put to members for a vote.
Why it matters
The adoption of a formal policy equating Zionism with racism by a UK political party is a notable and contested move that has drawn condemnation from Israel and concern from within the party itself. It highlights deep divisions over how political movements address the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and definitions of racism.
Frequently asked questions
What did the Green party vote on?
According to the Guardian, the party voted on a motion calling for Zionism, the movement for a Jewish state, to be 'treated as any other form of racism'. The motion was formally adopted as party policy.
What was the result of the vote?
The motion passed by 1,022 votes to 813 at the party's annual conference in Brighton on Sunday.
How did Israel respond?
The Guardian reported that Israel condemned the decision, describing it as a 'stain on the history of the UK'.