Green Party leader Zack Polanski has ignited new controversy by declaring in an ITV interview with Robert Peston that he does not believe any country possesses a 'right to exist', including Israel. He argued that only 'people have a right to exist', claiming that 'semantics about whether a country has a right to exist' lie at the heart of the ongoing Israel-Palestinian conflict, which he characterised as a 'genocidal apartheid state' in reference to the war on Gaza.
Polanski's Remarks and Their Context
Polanski linked his argument to the 1917 Balfour Declaration, which promised a 'national home' for Jewish people and is widely seen as laying the groundwork for Israel's creation and the subsequent displacement of Palestinians. His comments come amid a period of declining poll ratings for the Green Party, following his previous criticism of police treatment of a suspect accused of stabbing two Jewish men and his false claim of having been a 'spokesman' for the British Red Cross.
Challenge from Robert Peston
Robert Peston challenged Polanski, suggesting that his stance implied Britain also lacked a right to exist. Polanski did not refute this point, instead focusing on the concept of 'colonial gatekeeping' and the British Mandate in Palestine. The interview has drawn widespread attention and criticism, with many accusing Polanski of undermining the legitimacy of sovereign states.
Polanski's statements have reignited debates about national sovereignty and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with political opponents condemning his views as extreme and out of touch with mainstream opinion.
