The Green Party, on the cusp of electoral breakthroughs in local councils across England, is facing internal turmoil over accusations of antisemitism within its rapidly expanding membership. The party, which has seen its ranks swell to over 220,000 members since September, is struggling to manage complaints and maintain unity amid heightened tensions following the Israel-Hamas conflict.
Elise Benjamin, a Green Party member for over 30 years, expressed mixed feelings about the party's growth, noting that while she welcomes electoral success, a 'small but noisy core' is fixated on the Israel-Palestine issue. She called for an urgent review of the complaints process to ensure it is fit for purpose given the larger membership base.
Recent incidents have intensified scrutiny. Two Green candidates standing for Lambeth council were arrested for allegedly stirring up racial hatred with antisemitic posts online. Another candidate, Tina Ion in Newcastle, faced accusations after calling for 'every single Zionist' to be killed, which she dismissed as 'isolated fragments'. Party leader Zack Polanski, who is Jewish, also sparked controversy by sharing a post questioning police tactics in the arrest of a suspect in the stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green, later apologising for his remarks.
The party's internal debate mirrors broader societal tensions over definitions of Zionism and criticism of Israel. Since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack and Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza, arguments have played out in branch meetings and online, reflecting how Jewish people in the UK have experienced the fallout. Polanski, who took over as leader in September, has attracted many former Labour members disillusioned with Jeremy Corbyn's leadership, but the party now faces similar challenges over antisemitism that plagued Labour.
