A Jewish voice on Zionism is Racism

Leni Solinger, from Jews against Israeli Apartheid, has written to the Sheffield Star.

I am a Jewish resident of Sheffield and am incensed by the constant conflation of antisemitism and criticism of Israel. The recent article entitled “Critics Blast Green Party as Anti-Semitic” does just that.  People may like or dislike the motion passed at the Green Party conference, but there is nothing antisemitic about it.

The motion criticises Zionism, a political ideology. That isn’t antisemitic. Israel was built on Zionist principles, and many would say it is at the root of the conflict. Building a Jewish state by expelling over 750,000 Palestinians and discriminating against those who managed to remain isn’t a recipe for peace.

The motion talks about Israel being an apartheid state. Again, that is not antisemitic but well documented by international and Israeli human rights organisations. Under Israel’s rule, there are separate roads for Palestinians and Israelis; there are separate courts, separate laws, to name just a few. The motion calls for a one democratic state solution. The Labour and Conservative parties always talk about a two-state solution. Why is the Green Party not allowed to present a different solution?

I personally think it is up to the Palestinians — not the West — to decide their own future, but it is not antisemitic to put this forward. It does not call for Jewish people to be expelled. It is about creating a new state where everyone has equal rights—as was done in South Africa. We should be able to debate these issues without hurling around the charge of antisemitism. The motion is about Israel’s policies – it is NOT about being Jewish. It is about justice for all the people — not some. There can never be peace without justice.

Leni Solinger

Member of Sheffield Jews against Israeli Apartheid.

Here is another clip which I think is very useful.

View this post on Instagram

And here is my latest post on Bluesky in which I tagged the Green MPs and leaders.

Graham Wroe @tellthetruthsheff.bsky.social

The motion opposes Zionism. Not all Jews are Zionists, and not all Zionists are Jews. Opposing Zionism is not antisemitic, and indeed it is a belief protected by the Equalities Act 2010

Unlike the amendment, which was sensibly voted down, the motion is very careful not to conflate anti Zionism with anti-Semitism.

But now the press believes that the Green Party is full of antisemites, and the witch hunt has begun. Green Party leaders need to stand up for the members who voted for this, even if they don’t agree with them.

This, for instance, is how my local paper is attacking hard-working Green Councillors in Sheffield. www.thestar.co.uk/news/politic…?

Calls for Green councillors to say how they voted on ‘Zionism is Racism’ motion