Green Party leader Zack Polanski has ignited fresh controversy after questioning Israel's right to exist as a nation during an interview with ITV's Robert Peston. When asked directly whether Israel has a right to exist, Polanski replied: "I don't believe any country has a right to exist. People have a right to exist. The Israelis have a right to exist; the Palestinians have a right to exist."
Polanski argued that "semantics about whether a country has a right to exist" are at the root of the current Israel-Palestinian conflict. He added: "I think it is our role as a third country to make sure there is fairness, transparency and accountability about a peace process (in the Gaza conflict)." The Green Party leader described Israel as a "genocidal apartheid state" over its war in Gaza.
The exchange comes as Polanski's poll ratings have plummeted following recent criticism. He faced backlash after sharing a post that criticised officers arresting a suspect accused of stabbing two Jewish men in Golders Green last week. He also admitted falsely claiming to have once been a 'spokesman' for the British Red Cross.
During the interview, Peston pressed Polanski on his stance, saying: "The implication of that is that Britain doesn't have the right to exist, which also carries quite heavy connotations." Polanski's reference to the Balfour Declaration — the 1917 statement by British Foreign Secretary Lord Balfour promising a 'national home' for the Jewish people — has been criticised for paving the way for the creation of Israel in 1948 and the displacement of large numbers of Palestinians.
Polanski's mention of 'gatekeeping' relates to the concept of 'colonial gatekeeping,' where the fate and borders of post-colonial states are dictated by former colonial rulers. The Balfour Declaration led to the British Mandate in Palestine, established in 1923 by the League of Nations, which oversaw Jewish immigration in the run-up to Israel's creation after World War II. Critics say the Mandate sowed the seeds of the ongoing conflict.
Despite the controversy, Green Party membership has soared since Polanski took over as leader. However, his recent remarks have further strained his relationship with Jewish communities and drawn sharp criticism from political opponents.
