The Green Party has passed a motion formally characterising Zionism as a form of racism after a contentious discussion at its autumn gathering in Brighton.
Delegates backed the proposal by 1,022 votes to 813 at the Brighton Centre on Sunday, October 4.
The outcome means Zionism will be addressed as any other variant of racism within the party’s official policy framework.
The motion describes Zionism as an ethnonationalist political project and maintains that opposing Zionism should not be conflated with antisemitism.
It also obliges the Greens to champion the establishment of a single democratic Palestinian state across historic Palestine, guaranteeing equal rights for all inhabitants and affirming the right of return for Palestinians and their descendants.
Demonstrators gathered outside the Brighton Centre on the preceding day, with rival pro-Israel and pro-Palestinian protests taking place simultaneously.
A Green Party spokesperson indicated that the conference had addressed a matter of profound significance to members, noting that the party consistently values democratic participation in shaping policy and that conference had reached its decision.
The spokesperson emphasised that the Green Party remained committed to being anti-racist, having long opposed the occupation of Palestinian and Syrian territories, demanded an end to arms exports to the Israeli government, and spoken out about conditions in Gaza and the West Bank.
Those positions would continue to inform the party’s approach alongside its unwavering dedication to equality, justice and human rights for all people and its opposition to racism in every manifestation.
Party leadership released a communication following the ballot affirming commitment to universal human rights.
The statement, issued on behalf of party chief Zack Polanski, deputy leaders Mothin Ali and Rachel Millward, and the party’s five parliamentarians, declared that no form of discrimination or harassment would be tolerated.
The party would persist in opposing genocide, ethnic cleansing, apartheid and illegal occupation, in challenging the Netanyahu administration, and in working to ensure the Green Party upheld anti-racist principles in every respect.
The statement asserted there existed no contradiction between supporting Palestinian rights and supporting Jewish rights.
The vote followed extended disagreement within party ranks and occurred one day after competing demonstrations took place outside the venue.
Several senior party figures had already signalled opposition to the proposal.
Former Brighton Pavilion representative and former party leader Caroline Lucas expressed serious reservations about the motion beforehand and announced she would not support it.
She observed that no single definition of Zionism existed and suggested that regardless of the proponents’ aims, the policy risked being divisive and could potentially convey that Jewish individuals were unwelcome within the party.
Conference delegates rejected an amendment proposing that the policy should not be employed to pressurise, proscribe or sanction members based on their connection to synagogues or other Jewish organisations identifying as Zionist.
Polanski did not take part in the ballot, having departed after delivering his address on Friday to campaign in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, where he is a candidate.
That contest is scheduled for October 8.