The party's membership passed the motion 1,022 to 813 and rejected an amendment to shield members from disciplinary action based on affiliations with Zionist institutions. This policy shift led to the resignation of Sandy Ruthven, chair of Amnesty International UK, and an entry ban for Polanski imposed by Israel's Foreign Ministry. Additionally, more than a dozen Labour MPs have reported the party to Sussex Police and the Equality and Human Rights Commission to determine if the movement's actions cross into criminal racial or religious hatred.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
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Green Leader Polanski Repudiates Antisemitism Claims After Israel Ban
World15 days ago
Zack Polanski, the Jewish leader of the Green Party of England and Wales, has broken his silence to argue that political criticism of the state of Israel is distinct from antisemitism. Following a member vote at the party's annual conference in Brighton to equate Zionism with racism, Polanski stated that blurring the line between the two is "not only wrong but antisemitic." He pledged that no party member would be made unwelcome or excluded because of their background, faith, or the religious and communal institutions they attend.
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