Zack Polanski has said he does not think his party’s “Zionism is racism” policy is “controversial” but said he wants to amend it “at the first available opportunity”. The Green Party leader said he believes Zionism – the movement to develop and protect a Jewish state in Israel – is “racism” in how it is applied. He confirmed he will not overturn the motion but plans to amend it, though he added that he is unable to do so for two years because of party rules.
Pressure after conference vote
His party has been facing intense pressure and criticism after it passed a motion defining Zionism as racist by 1,022 votes to 813 at their conference. The policy – put forward by the Greens for Palestine group – has been criticised by leading Greens, and four of the party's five MPs said they did not support it ahead of the vote.
Asked about the motion – which was passed at the Greens’ annual conference – Mr Polanski, who is Jewish, told BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg show: “The first thing I'd say is I don't think this is actually controversial. I think what's controversial is that 75,000 Palestinians have been murdered in the last few years.”
Plans to amend the policy
The London assembly member – who has previously said he would not have voted for the motion – continued: “I think Zionism is racism in the practical application of it. Now the conference had a debate about the motion, about the word. I said I think debates about words are unhelpful, and I still think that.”
Asked whether he would overturn the policy motion, he added: “I’m not going to try and overturn it. At the first available opportunity, I do want to amend it. I want to move away from one state towards saying that Israelis and Palestinians should decide that future for themselves.”
Asked when that will be, he said 2028, because “when you vote on something in our party conference, that’s then policy for two years”. When asked if he thinks Israel has a right to exist, Mr Polanski said: “I don’t think any state has a right to exist under international law, but the question is, what Israel, even Israel, doesn’t know its own borders. It’s constantly invading other people’s land.
“Also, there’s no right to exist for any country. Ultimately, people have a right to exist, and what I’m sat here saying – and I don’t think is in any way controversial – is I want Israelis and Palestinians to live together, side by side, to be able to self-determine themselves, to all be able to vote, to all be able to have freedom, the right to live in freedom and security.”
Public approval falls
Mr Polanski has faced a troubling few weeks, which has also included a failed bid to become an MP in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. A survey by Ipsos this month found 52% of the public said they had an unfavourable view of the Green leader, up six points since September and the first time more than half of the population had expressed a negative opinion of Mr Polanski.
Just 16% said they had a positive view of the leader and his overall approval rating has fallen to minus 36, the lowest of any national party leader. The Ipsos poll surveyed 2,257 British adults online between October 9 and 13.
