Green Party leader Zack Polanski has stated he will not overturn a recent party motion that declared Zionism a form of racism, emphasizing his commitment to respecting the democratic will of party members.

The motion, passed at the Green Party's conference earlier this month, defined Zionism as an ideology supporting an ethnonationalist Jewish state in historic Palestine to the exclusion or domination of the non-Jewish population. This declaration has ignited significant controversy, drawing strong criticism from Members of Parliament, Jewish advocacy groups, the government, and the European Green movement. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has also contacted the party seeking further information.

The fallout from the motion significantly impacted Polanski's recent campaign in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, where he secured second place. The controversy also put his leadership under threat. Polanski faced criticism for not voting on the motion himself, which was approved by 1,022 votes to 813, a margin representing a small fraction of the party's 230,000 members. The motion further endorsed a single democratic state across historic Palestine, a complete arms embargo on Israel, and a commitment to Palestinian liberation.

When questioned about overturning the motion, Polanski confirmed his intention not to do so, though he expressed a desire to amend it at the earliest opportunity. He specifically aims to shift the policy away from supporting a single state towards allowing Israelis and Palestinians to determine their own future. However, he noted that such amendments would not be possible until 2028, as party conference decisions remain policy for two years under current rules.

Polanski indicated that he believes changing the rules as leader is not appropriate when members have made a decision. He previously stated he would not have voted for the motion without two specific amendments: one to avoid defining a single democratic state and another to ensure the motion could not be used to discipline Jewish Green members attending synagogues that identify as Zionist. Both of these proposed amendments were rejected by party members at the conference.

Some Green MPs, including Ellie Chowns, have called for a review of the party's member-led decision-making processes, citing the low turnout for the vote. When asked directly if he considered Zionism to be racist, Polanski responded that he did not find the question controversial. He instead pointed to the reported deaths of 75,000 Palestinians in recent years, suggesting their murder because they are Palestinian constitutes a racist ideology.

Responding to a question about whether he understood that for many Jewish people, Zionism represents the right to a safe homeland, Polanski acknowledged this perception. However, he reiterated his focus on the "practical application" of the ideology, arguing that this pursuit of a homeland has come at the expense of the Palestinian people.