Zionism is Racism

by Graham Wroe

“Zionism is Racism” is a motion written by Lubna Speitan, which was proposed to the Green Party Conference in Spring 2026. Unfortunately, despite massive support at the conference, it was not debated due to filibustering by a tiny minority of conference attendees. It is now on the Agenda for the Autumn Conference, to be held in Brighton on October 2nd-4th.

The motion has taken on a life of its own and is now being debated by many groups and Trade Unions. Maybe you could get your group or Trade Union to support it?

I have proposed a motion to be debated at the Sheffield Green Party members’ meeting on Monday, August 10th. If you are a member, please come along and support the motion. If not, it’s not too late to join.

Pre-amble

Sheffield Greens have always campaigned for the rights of Palestinian people and are proud members of the Sheffield Palestine Coalition against Israeli Apartheid. As the world’s attention has turned to Iran, the Genocide continues in Gaza and settlers, backed by the Israeli regime, continue to murder and steal Palestinian land in the West Bank. Our Government continues to send weapons to Israel, clamp down on protests, and imprison activists who take direct action to stop the genocide or even express support for direct action.

At our Autumn conference, the Green Party will discuss a vitally important motion that will change the nature of political debate about Israel/Palestine in this country. It already has over 700 supporters on the member’s website, and many organisations outside the party are backing it, including the local group “Sheffield Jews Against Israeli Apartheid”. The “Zionism is Racism” motion sets out the strongest position possible on Palestinian rights, while firmly opposing the weaponisation of antisemitism allegations to silence legitimate criticism of Israel. It also advocates for the de-proscription of P@lestine Action and the release of all political prisoners that the state has targeted in relation to non-violent direct action in solidarity with the Palestinian people. My motion below is co-seconded by a diverse group of Sheffield Green Party members, including people from Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and no-faith backgrounds. 

Motion

Sheffield Green Party endorses the Zionism is Racism motion and urges members to support and vote for it at conference on 2nd-4th October.

The full text of the Zionism is Racism motion is on the members’ website (Motion A3) and is reprinted below.

Zionism is Racism

Proposer:

Lubna Speitan

Motion Type

Type:

E Motion (Policy)

Synopsis

This motion defines Zionism, recognises its continued harm to Palestinians, and
seeks to clarify that the Green Party is opposed to Zionism. It further affirms
the right to self-determination and liberation of the Palestinian people and
supports the establishment of a single democratic Palestinian State in all of
historic Palestine.

Motion text

Zionism is 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. 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 practice of Zionist ideology, promoting ethnonationalism, privileges one
ethnic group on the basis of the subjugation of others. Zionism is Israel’s
foundational ideology.

Zionism has created and seeks to maintain — and where possible—expand an
apartheid regime between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea, designed to cement the supremacy of one group, Jews, over another, Palestinians. As such,
Zionism is racist.

This motion is aimed at the political ideology and practice of Zionism, as
defined, and not at the religious or ethnic background of those who may identify
as Zionists. Not all Jews are Zionists and not all Zionists are Jews.

Rejecting Zionism and supporting the liberation of the Palestinian people is not
discriminatory against Jewish people. Nor is it discriminatory to support the
establishment of a single democratic Palestinian State between the Jordan river
and the Mediterranean Sea with equal rights for all.

Zionism is fundamentally incompatible with anti-racist principles, equality and
justice.

CONFERENCE RESOLVES THAT:

1. The Green Party declares itself to be an anti-Zionist party.

2. The Green Party rejects attempts to normalise the racist subjugation and
oppression of Palestinians; to equate anti-Zionism with antisemitism; to deny or
minimise Palestinian human rights; to create hierarchies of racism; and to
normalise or attempt to justify apartheid, ethnic cleansing or genocide. We
affirm that definitions of anti-Jewish discrimination should not equate Jewish
identity with Zionist ideology or political practice. As with any ethnicity or
faith group, no single political ideology should be ascribed to an entire
people.

3. Following from Motion E05, which affirmed that Israel is an apartheid State
committing genocide, and Motion E07 supporting reparations and accountability,
the Green Party supports the establishment of a single democratic Palestinian
State in all of historic Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital, equal rights
for all, and the right of return for Palestinians and their descendants.

4. The Green Party affirms the Palestinian people’s inalienable right to self-
determination, including the right of the Palestinian people to resistance and
liberation from Israeli occupation, domination and subjugation, and acknowledges
that the struggle to achieve that liberation by all available means under
international law is legitimate.

5. The Green Party heeds the call from Palestinian civil society to impose broad
boycotts and implement divestment initiatives against Israel similar to those
applied to South Africa in the apartheid era, and calls upon the United Kingdom
Government to impose full embargoes and sanctions against Israel.

6. The Green Party calls for the release of all Palestinian prisoners of
conscience (including Marwan Barghouti), the end of the use of administrative
detention of Palestinians by Israel, and the treatment of Palestinian combatants
in accordance with international humanitarian law, including in particular those
provisions dealing with prisoners of war in the First Additional Protocol of the
1977 amendments to the Four Genevan Conventions of 1949 relating to the
Protection of Victims of International Armed Conflicts.

7. The Green Party calls for the removal of P@lestine Action from the list of
proscribed organisations in Schedule 2 to the Terrorism Act 2000 (i.e. de-
proscription).

8. The Green Party calls for the release of all prisoners detained for non-
violent direct action in support of Palestinian rights and the end of the
genocide, apartheid and the illegal occupation of Palestine and supports the
demands of the Prisoners for Palestine 4

ACTIONS FOR THE PARTY TO TAKE:

The Green Party adopts the following action points:

• This motion will be incorporated into the Green Party’s Record of Policy
  Statements as appropriate and promoted in accordance with our rules and
  procedures.
• Zionism, as defined above, will be treated as any other form of racism,
  and this motion will be implemented by the Anti-Racism Policy Working
  Group as appropriate and in accordance with its ordinary practice.
• The positions on international policy within this motion will be
  implemented by the International Policy Working Group as appropriate and
  in accordance with its ordinary practice.

We affirm our commitment to explicitly opposing Zionism in our internal and
external communications going forward.

The UK and Welsh Parliaments, the London and Mayoral Assemblies, and Local
Councils and Local Authorities must exercise their authority to end the
genocide, occupation and apartheid. Elected Green representatives will continue
to put pressure on all and any relevant bodies to achieve these goals. This
motion ensures our positions comply with international law, equity, and our
commitment to justice and human rights.

MPs, London and Mayoral Assembly Members, Councillors, and prospective Members
of the Senedd should take measures at their respective chambers to create local,
sub-national, and national action for Palestine, ending any investments in
Israel; demanding peace and accountability, and an end to the egregious
violations of international humanitarian law and the genocide conventions, and
an immediate move towards accountability, reparations, and justice for the
Palestinian people.

There was a good discussion on this recently, organised by Greens for Palestine.

Do watch the whole video, but if you are pressed for time fast forward to Lubna’s speech at 24 minutes in.

I have heard some people say, “but there are different types of Zionism, what about Zionists that don’t support Apartheid or the Genocide?” It is impossible to maintain Zionism as defined in the motion as “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” without violence, discrimination and oppression. It may be true that there are, or were, different types of Zionism, but this is not relevant as the motion provides a clear definition. 

Christian Zionism is very much part of the problem. Some Christian groups like the Amos Trust do an amazing job supporting Palestinians. But some Fundamentalist and Conservative Christians, especially in the United States, view the Jewish state as an instrument for fulfilling their own apocalyptic prophecy.   All Zionists believe in the right to a Jewish state in Palestine, and this is the heart of the problem. The same argument was used against the abolition of slavery. “Some slave owners are good and don’t mistreat their slaves”, they would argue. But of course, it was the denial of people’s freedom that was the core of the problem. Zionism denies the freedom of the Palestinians.

I have heard some people say this motion is antisemitic. Nothing could be further from the truth. The motion is backed by many Jewish groups. Being anti-zionist is often wrongly conflated with being antisemitic. Professor David Miller was sacked by Bristol University for his anti-zionist views. Recently, he won his tribunal against them, confirming that anti-zionism is a protected belief in this country under the Equality Act.

I have also heard some people say this motion will be divisive. Unfortunately, the division existed before the motion. Many good Green Party candidates have been suspended on the grounds of anti-semitism, when in fact they are nothing of the sort. Also, good people have been expelled from the party for antisemitism, when they are not racist, simply anti-zionist.

The Green Party must never be afraid to do what is right. That may at times cause division, as it did when we proudly backed the rights of trans people. This led to some expulsions and resignations from a small minority that disagreed, but it also led to growth in the party as many LGBTQIA+ people flocked to join us. No one likes conflict within the party, but sometimes it has to happen. If some Zionists leave as a result, so be it. I’m sure many more supporters of the Palestinian people will join.

Some say the motion is inconsequential. I strongly beg to differ! The motion puts us in the forefront of the Palestine Solidarity movement, offering a just solution to the conflict. Just like the end of Apartheid in South Africa, a single state solution is the best hope for the Middle East. The call for broad boycotts and divestment from Israel, of the sort that was so successful against Apartheid South Africa, is much needed and can be promoted by Green Party Councillors throughout the country. We must stand up for those convicted of terrorism for taking part in Non-Violent Direct Action, and for those arrested simply for displaying a message on a piece of card.

Please join me in supporting this motion and making the Green Party an anti-Zionist Party.