Green Party Faces Counter-Terror Police Report Over Anti-Zionist Motion
An internal whistleblower within the Green Party has taken the dramatic step of reporting the organisation to counter-terrorism police, raising serious concerns about extremism and anti-Semitism. The report alleges that the party is becoming a breeding-ground for anti-Jewish sentiments under the leadership of Zack Polanski, with fears mounting that sectarianism and radical views are being tolerated.
Hard-Left Activists and Controversial Motion
In recent months, hard-left activists have joined the Green Party in protest at Labour's stance on the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. This influx has coincided with a push by pro-Palestine Greens to declare the party 'anti-Zionist', a move that has horrified many existing members. The controversial 'Zionism is Racism' motion, backed by the Greens For Palestine group and deputy leader Mothin Ali, calls for the party to brand anyone seeking a Jewish state in Palestine as racist.
The motion effectively advocates for replacing Israel with a 'single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine, with Jerusalem as its capital'. A campaign poster for the motion depicts a map of Israel painted in Palestinian flag colours, adding to the controversy. Despite rejecting accusations that anti-Zionism equates to anti-Semitism, the motion has gathered over 300 supporters and is set for debate at the party's spring conference, where it could become official policy if voted through.
Whistleblower Allegations and Police Involvement
The whistleblower reported the Green Party to the Metropolitan Police's anti-terror hotline, accusing it of 'failing to protect its members' by allowing extremism to prosper. They believe the party could be breaking laws related to encouraging terrorism and inciting hatred based on race, religion, or sexual orientation. The whistleblower cited the party's 'appalling safeguarding and contagious naivety' as factors that have left it vulnerable to infiltration by extremists, describing this as 'arithmetic sectarianism'.
Evidence of this failure includes two other motions proposed for the spring conference, one of which calls for MPs to 'oppose the Government's plan to tackle anti-Semitism and other racism'. Moderators were recently forced to delete offensive comments on the party's internal forum, where members described Zionism as a 'weapon' leaving 'a trail of bloody bodies and cultural hegemony in its path'.
Party Response and Broader Context
The Green Party has insisted that the 'Zionism is Racism' motion 'is not currently policy' and stated they have not been contacted by police. A spokesman emphasised that 'the safety of all members and communities is always a priority in policy-making and discussion'. However, this comes amid broader scrutiny of Polanski's leadership; last week, Conservative shadow minister Neil O'Brien branded him 'disgusting' for gloating about a jury's failure to convict Palestine Action protesters over a break-in at an Israeli defence firm that left a policewoman with a 'shattered spine'.
The motion also calls for the release of all 'political prisoners', including Marwan Barghouti, who was convicted in Israel of five murders and is accused of leading the al-Aqsa Martyrs' Brigades. A police spokesman declined to comment on the report, stating that all submissions to the Anti-Terrorist Hotline are treated as confidential. As the spring conference approaches, the Green Party faces mounting pressure to address these allegations and safeguard its members from extremism.
