In solidarity with the Green Party
JVL Statement on the Green Party’s “Zionism is Racism” motion
We extend our solidarity to the Green Party of England and Wales and its members who are facing a barrage of media smears and abuse following its conference decision to pass a ‘Zionism is Racism’ motion. We understand the outrage which underpins that motion, in particular a fury at the UK government’s complicity with the genocide in Gaza.
We believe that any division resulting from the differences of view on the motion, within and outside the Green Party is being fuelled by a hostile media response and bad faith actors who refuse to engage with what the real substance of the motion is – a reaction to genocide and an attempt to root out its causes.
We reject the accusations that the resolution is antisemitic and are appalled but not surprised by the media pile up against both the Green Party and its Jewish leader, Zack Polanski.
As it has played out in Israel over the last hundred years and more Zionism has been racist and much more besides. It is also colonialist and ever more ethno-nationalist, culminating in apartheid, ethnic cleansing, war crimes and genocide. The motion is written at this time of genocide, embracing a Palestinian perspective, nailing down responsibility for it in how Zionist ideology has driven Israel’s actions.
The motion defines quite clearly the Zionism which it is calling out as racist. It says that this Zionism is “a political ideology which called for the creation – and, now it exists, the continuity – of an ethnonationalist Jewish State in historic Palestine to the exclusion and/or domination of the non-Jewish population. The real, material manifestation of Zionism has been the historic and ongoing dehumanisation, displacement, dispossession, disenfranchisement and destruction of Palestinians. This is based upon European settler-colonial systems of domination and oppression, which has also created racial hierarchies between Jews of different ethnicities in Palestine.”
Zionist ideology has elevated the concerns and desires of Jews in Palestine/Israel above those of all others. Creating such a hierarchy of worth is the signal of racism, making this Zionism a racist ideology.
It is generally agreed that identifying Jews with the actions of Israel is antisemitic. The resolution emphatically does not do that: it clearly and carefully distinguishes between Jews and Zionism and responsibility for Israel’s actions. To call this position antisemitic is an abuse of both Palestinians and Jews. It is those who attack ‘Zionism is Racism’ who insist on identifying a critique of Zionism with attacks on Jews as Jews, and Jews with the actions of Israel’s genocidal government. By so doing they are putting Jews at risk as proxies for Israel.
The motion calls for a single multi-ethnic state for all its citizens in historic Palestine with the right of return for exiled Palestinians and their descendants. A future single state is a longstanding, widely held end position for Israel and Palestine. It is possibly not a majority position amongst Palestinians in the region today and is certainly a minority position amongst Jews, though one shared by many in JVL. Nevertheless, we recognise the Palestinian right to self-determination and believe it is up to the people of the region to work out their future together. We reject the allegation that calling for such a state is a call for the murder or forced expulsion of Israeli Jews.
We welcome and support the unanimous statement of the Green Party MPs, and leadership group reiterating their determined opposition to all forms of racism and for the protection of all ethnicities.
We applaud the Green Party’s strong stance against the occupation, ethnic cleansing, apartheid and genocide and support for Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions. We recognise the Green Party as an important progressive force on the left of politics in the UK. We note the parallels between the bad faith attacks on the Greens for being a party of the left that is critical of Israel and supportive of Palestinians, and those against the Labour Party under Jeremy Corbyn.
We hope the Green Party is able to recover quickly from the turbulence surrounding this motion and continue with its progressive policies on Palestine/Israel, reducing inequality, reshaping the economy and minimising environmental catastrophe.
In Solidarity.
Great statement. Hits all the nails on the head. I’ve been in a discussion with some CPB members this evening, who seem to have varying perspectives over the call for a unitary state and the equation of zionism with racism. Apparently the CC is discussing the issue this evening. I hope they arrive at a position similar to your. Many thanks.
Agree 100%, the Green Party has been brave and principled. Sometimes the democratic is messy but it’s better to have a democratic process than a stage-choreographed party. Voters are fed up with bland triangulation, they’re fed up with ethnic cleansing and genocide, and they’re fed up with the establishment’s failure take any serious measures against Israel during the genocide. Onward!
It is weird you have to be courageous to make such a proclamation since its message is simply common sense and stating facts.
And let the German Grüne and Dutch PRO! (Formerly GroenLinks) learn from this.
Is this the view of JVL or just one person? Membership not canvassed. My view: unequivocal support for Palestine but do not support Greens’ motion. Far too prescriptive.
It is the view of the Executive Committee
Well said JVL. People are wising up to the truth here and in the US, as Israel is becoming a pariah state because of its current leaders. I do not listen to even the Guardian on this- or maybe even – especially the Guardian and the dreadful Freedland. The Guardian has been a bad faith actor all along on this like the BBC. I expect it from the Telegraph and Mail . I hope Zak wins tomorrow. About time he was in the House.
This has been put brilliantly, and I am so glad to read it. If only this sober and explanatory analysis could achieve prominence in the media. Thank you JVL.
Bravo, JVL and Greens!
The Green party have proven they are infested with deeply antisemitic racists. They have almost certianly broken race hate laws – as Labour did under Corbyn. Its the end of them. Lets hope Labour win tomorrow in Holborn. As for the charletan David Paulden, he can go back to his previous job – enlarging female anatomy through hypnosis.
I have always seen the establishment of a secure, viable, Palestinian state within 1 June 1967 borders as a stepping stone to a secular state within the whole territory now controlled by Israel, excluding occupied Syrian and Lebanese territory and violations at the Egyptian and Jordanian borders.
It may not in the event be a necessary stepping stone however, the closer Israel comes to annexation of occupied Palestine.
Either way, there will have to be a renunciation of Zionist, colonialist supremacism and expansionism, just as, for example, there also was a renunciation of communal primacy in the Good Friday agreement and of racial primacy upon the release of Nelson Mandela. I first proclaimed the necessity and inevitabilty of a united Ireland to colleagues in 1973. I hope a secular state for Jews, Christains Muslims and others does not take so long, measured from 1967, but it may do. Nevertheless, it is absolutely legitimate to call for it now.
Thank you once again getting it exactly right. Some Green members are understandably spooked by the media pile-in. Many aren’t yet aware enough of the fundamental historical narrative of Zionism. It’s a time for cool heads and a steep and inclusive learning curve.
Lets lend our experiences of expulsions and attacks from the media and the Labour Party, to those in the Green Party who have had the gumption to say what is absolutely right. Zionism is not Judaism and never has been. All power to those Greens who supported and voted for the motion “Zionism is racism”. Polanski has come out and said what Corbyn never did. Corbyn tried to appease the Zionists, which ultimately lead to his downfall. Politically, this is a “Cable Street” moment. We know the Zionist enemy and must rally to defend all those who stand against them.
In Solidarity.
Thank you JVL for your thoughtful response and articulating so well what we felt but could not find the words to say with such precision.
In total solidarity with the Greens and the strong support shown from JVL for standing in unity and standing strong against the inevitable condemnation by the media and Israeli state attempts to obfuscate the actual facts about the long standing Zionist “project” being carried out in Palestine
Excellent and very timely statement. Needs to be seen widely and at once. I#ll be circulating.
I greatly admire the Greens’ brave and principled stand for human decency as shown by the “Zionism is Racism” policy. In 2026 the UK really should not be supporting Apartheid and Apartheid states!
Love