Green MPs make last ditch attempt to stop Zionism is Racism motion

Green Party MPs have made a last ditch attempt to stop the Zionism is Racism passing at Green Party Conference. The vote on the motion is expected to take place tomorrow (Sunday 4 October).

The motion begins with a definition of Zionism: “a political ideology which called for the creation – and, now it exists, the continuity – of an ethnonationalist Jewish State in historic Palestine to the exclusion and/or domination of the non-Jewish population.”

It then continues by arguing: “The real, material manifestation of Zionism has been the historic and ongoing dehumanisation, displacement, dispossession, disenfranchisement and destruction of Palestinians. This is based upon European settler-colonial systems of domination and oppression, which has also created racial hierarchies between Jews of different ethnicities in Palestine.”

The motion has been highly contentious within the party. Advocates have argued that the motion is the natural conclusion of the party’s existing policies on Palestine and that it would commit the party to an explicitly anti-Zionist position. Opponents argue that it risks alienating large sections of the electorate, could see Jewish members facing disciplinary action for being members of synagogues that are affiliated to denominations which describe themselves as Zionist, and that as it commits the Green Party to a ‘one-state solution’ rather than allowing the Palestinian people to determine which solution they wish to negotiate with Israel.

Three Green MPs have released statements opposing the motion – at least in its current form.

Green MP Adrian Ramsay’s statement reads “We need to be crystal clear as a party that we stand with the ordinary people of Palestine and Israel, and with Jews and Muslims in the UK, many of whom feel unsafe after multiple attacks on their communities.” Elsewhere, he said that he would be voting against the motion on the basis that it went against the Greens’ long-held principles on Palestine.

Carla Denyer – who previously co-led the party with Ramsay – similarly said she was opposed to the motion. In her statement, she said: “In this party, I know we are united in tackling the ongoing and enduring injustices in Gaza and across Palestine. I am proud of the Green Party’s culture of robust political debate coupled with a drive to build positive consensus, so I am confident that it would be possible for us to come to a position and write a motion that addresses the concerns that I and others have raised, while strengthening our support for Palestinian liberation. sadly I do not think this motion is it.”

Sian Berry – the Green MP for Brighton Pavilion – released a statement calling for the motion to be ‘referred back’. Referring a motion back means that conference does not take a vote on the motion, and instead agrees for the proposers to look at it again, revise it, and bring it back to a future conference.

The party’s other two MPs – Ellie Chowns and Hannah Spencer – have not released a statement on the issue at the time of writing. LFF understands, however, that Chowns does not want the motion to pass.

The motion has also divided the party leadership. One of the party’s deputy leaders Mothin Ali has said he will vote for the motion. The other deputy, Rachel Millward, has said that she would not be voting for it unamended. The Green Party’s leader Zack Polanski has said he’s backing two amendments – one around protecting Jews’ membership of synagogues, and the other which would remove the commitment to support a single Palestinian state.

Chris Jarvis is head of strategy and development at Left Foot Forward

Image credit: UK Parliament – Creative Commons