Green Party leader Zack Polanski has said he disagrees with his party's new policy on Zionism and will seek to amend it at the first available opportunity, which falls in 2028.
Two weeks ago, Green Party members passed a motion at their annual conference in Brighton denouncing Zionism – generally defined as the desire for a safe Jewish homeland – as racism. As part of the motion, the party now officially supports a single Palestinian state, which would require the dismantling of the state of Israel.
Leader's disagreement
In an appearance on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Polanski said he disagrees with that element of the motion and hopes to change it. He said: 'I don't think it's up to Western governments, and certainly not the UK government or the Green Party of England and Wales, to decide what the future looks like for Palestine and Israel.'
The party leader declined to say he supports a two-state solution to the conflict, arguing the proposal is 'for the birds' as candidates in this year's Israeli election also do not back it.
Amendment plan
Asked if he would scrap the motion, he said: 'I'm not going to try and overturn it, [but] at the first available opportunity I do want to amend it.'
'I want to move away from “one state” towards saying Israelis and Palestinians should decide that future for themselves.'
He confirmed the next opportunity would be in 2028, saying: 'When you vote on something in our party conference, that's then policy for two years.'
The rule means that if Prime Minister Andy Burnham decides to call a snap election before autumn 2028, the Green Party would include the controversial policy in its manifesto.
Political fallout
At Prime Minister's Questions this week, Burnham ruled out any coalition deals with the Greens while the policy – which he described as antisemitic – stands. Labour later clarified that this applies to all of the party's councillors in local government too, calling on them to dissolve power-sharing agreements with Green colleagues unless they disavow the motion.
On Friday, the Green group in Sheffield – which runs the city in coalition with Labour – dismissed the PM's call to reject the policy. In a letter to Labour council leader Fran Belbin, Green group leader Angela Argenzio wrote: 'You know that the Green Councillors are not antisemitic. Conflating Zionism with Judaism is itself antisemitic.'
'We stand with all Jewish residents of Sheffield: we always have and always will.'
The letter continued: 'Both you and I know the consequences of destabilising Sheffield City Council: for our city, for our employees and our plans for taking the city forward.'
'Our responsibility goes beyond the direction you are receiving from London. If Labour chooses to destabilise Sheffield City Council over this, Labour owns the consequences.'
Broader challenges
The row over the new policy has arguably been the most damaging element of a tough fortnight for Polanski.
A few days after the motion passed in Brighton, the leader lost the Holborn and St Pancras by-election in north London, where he had been hoping to claim the former seat of ex-Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer. Instead, the constituency was won by Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali.
Polanski has also been facing collapsing poll ratings, with the Green Party of England and Wales now at roughly the same level it was at before he swept to power a year ago.
In his BBC interview, the leader said the departure of Starmer as PM 'probably played a part in it' and argued his replacement Burnham is adopting Green policies.
