The Green Party is set to debate a motion critics claim would amount to backing Hamas terrorism while branding the party leader’s own mother a racist.
Campaigners say they’ve secured « record-breaking » grassroots backing for a « Zionism is Racism » resolution that may come before delegates next month. Passing the measure would commit the party to backing Palestinian « resistance » against Israel « by all available means under international law ».
A barrister promoting the proposal — who previously campaigned to have Hamas delisted as a terror group in Britain — acknowledged this represents a « euphemistic way of saying that the Palestinians have a right to armed struggle, and that we should support it. »
Documentation circulated with the motion, tabled for the Greens’ spring conference, makes clear that Palestinian « armed struggle » would gain the party’s endorsement.
Jewish identity branded as racism
Under the resolution, believing in Zionism — support for establishing and maintaining a Jewish homeland in Palestine — would be « treated as any other form of racism. »
Since the « overwhelming majority » of British Jews self-identify as Zionists, the Campaign Against Antisemitism argues the measure would declare them racist by definition and unleash a « frightening witch-hunt. »
Green leader Zack Polanski’s mother has shared pro-Israel content on social media, meaning the policy could require him to view her as holding racist beliefs.
Despite this, Mr Polanski refused to reject the motion outright this week, saying he « equivocated » on it because Zionism has different meanings to different people.
Deputy leader Mothin Ali is said to back the measure.
Israel’s existence challenged
The Greens For Palestine group is driving the « Zionism is Racism » campaign, which demands official party opposition to Zionism and calls for « de-proscription of Palestine Action » while insisting anti-Zionism doesn’t constitute anti-Semitism, reprots the Daily Mail.
Delegates would commit to a « single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine, with Jerusalem as its capital » — wiping Israel off the map.
Promotional graphics show Israel’s territory rendered in the red, white, black and green of the Palestinian flag, states the report.
Artist backs violent resistance
British Palestinian artist Lubna Speitan is reported as bringing the motion forward, allegedly telling supporters in an online gathering this week that « record-breaking » numbers have rallied behind it.
In an earlier speech in September 2025 Ms Speitan was repoted to have said: « The only way forward for the liberation of any people is going to be by force, what was taken by force must be returned by force and this comes with military intervention, and for me I support our right to the armed struggle. We must never deny that…
« I will refuse to condemn the resistance of any repressed or occupied people because we have that right.
« Only we can claim self-defence, not the occupier. »
She was said to have added: « The moment we rise, we call for resistance, [they say] ‘you terrorist.' »
Ms Speitan was contacted via her website for comment by the Express.
‘Worse than Corbyn era’
But John Mann, the government’s independent adviser on antisemitism, said: « It’s a support for terrorism and overt racism against Jews. There is no ambiguity.
« It’s from the extreme margins of politics.
« This is well beyond anything that happened during Labour under Jeremy Corbyn.
« This makes Corbyn look like a moderate.
« The crank element that even Corbyn was worried about has entered the Greens en mass.
« It’s also about as far away as from Green politics of the past as is possible.
« Greens used to be about stopping fossil fuels and nuclear power and building wind farms.
« Now hate is bringing members surging into the Green party. »
Jewish organisations sound alarm
The Board of Deputies of British Jews issued a stark warning about what passage would mean.
A spokesperson for the Board of Deputies of British Jews warned the motion and campaign of support for it « threatens to make the Green Party a hostile and discriminatory environment for its Jewish members, and has significant implications for British Jews more broadly. »
Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel told the Daily Mail: « This Green Party motion is one of the hateful and racist documents I’ve ever read.
« It calls for the destruction of Israel and seeks to justify terrorism against Israel. Its intent is to justify the destruction of the Jewish homeland and deny the right of Jews to a national home.
« The double standards are extraordinary as they demand a national home for Palestinians but not Jews.
« I completely condemn this horrific document and hope the people of the UK see the Greens for what they are – a racist and hateful political party. »
Party reported to terror police
One party member has gone so far as to alert counter-terrorism officers about the proposal, the Mail disclosed earlier this month.
A Green Party spokesman stressed it was « currently not policy » and only a « proposed motion » which all members are able to submit. He said it would have to be successful in an ongoing prioritisation ballot before it could be voted on in the spring conference.
Online organisers backing the resolution have published detailed voting guides showing new members exactly how to prioritise it in the ballot and then vote for it at conference if it makes the agenda.
But the online campaign encouraging new members to join to support the motion provides detailed step-by-step guides on how to vote for the motion in the priority ballot and, if successful, to vote for it at the spring conference.
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