Green Party members have adopted a controversial motion declaring Zionism a form of racism, a decision that has exposed significant divisions among senior party figures and drawn international condemnation. The motion, put forward by a group of members at the party's conference in Brighton, was endorsed by 1022 votes to 813.

The debate and subsequent vote on the policy motion have dominated the Green Party's annual conference, highlighting a divergence between the party's expanded membership base, particularly under leader Zack Polanski, and its elected Members of Parliament. The adopted resolution defines Zionism as an ideology supporting an ethnonationalist Jewish state and advocates for a single democratic Palestinian state across all of historic Palestine.

The motion's text asserts that the "real, material, manifestation of Zionism has been the historic and ongoing dehumanisation, displacement, dispossession, disenfranchisement and destruction of Palestinians." This declaration has faced strong criticism from several Jewish groups, including the Board of Deputies and the Jewish Leadership Council, who had previously written to the party expressing their concerns.

In a statement released on Sunday evening, these organizations characterized the motion as an "attack on the Jewish community." They argued that Zionism represents anti-racism by providing a refuge for Jews in their ancestral homeland after centuries of persecution, and that labeling it as racist incites anti-Jewish hatred, especially in light of recent violent incidents targeting Jewish individuals and institutions.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry responded sharply, stating that the motion crossed the boundaries of legitimate political discourse and constituted a "stain on the history of the United Kingdom." In a subsequent announcement, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar reportedly banned Green Party leader Zack Polanski from entering Israel as a consequence of the vote.

Lubna Speitan, a Green Party member who spearheaded the motion, defended the decision after the vote, stating that its proponents aimed to express opposition to "racist systems of oppression" and were "united against all forms of racism and discrimination - no exemptions."

Green Party leader Zack Polanski did not participate in the vote, having left the conference early to engage in campaigning for an upcoming election. Earlier in the week, Polanski had commented on the motion, acknowledging that "Zionism" linked to the "displacement of the Palestinian people" is clearly racist. However, he expressed reservations about the party dictating the specific future settlement for Palestine, suggesting that such decisions should not be made by the Green Party or the British government.

The conference proceedings have also featured extensive discussions on the conflict in Gaza, a topic that has gained prominence following a significant surge in Green Party membership since Polanski's election as leader in September of the previous year.