As the Labour Party conference comes to an end and the good people of Holburn and St Pancras prepare to choose their new MP, the Greens are heading to Brighton for the Green Party conference.
There’s lots going on at the conference, but one particular motion is likely to take the headlines. The Zionism is Racism motion has gained unprecedented support for a Green Party motion and was debated in Sheffield back in August. Unfortunately, that meeting decided not to formally back the motion. The main argument against it was not that anyone supported Zionism, but the difficulty in handling the backlash from the press that passing the motion would provoke. The debate was very hurried due to a lack of time, and consequently, some misinformation was not properly addressed.
One reason this motion is so important is that it ends the conflation between Jews and Zionists. Not all Zionists are Jews, and not all Jews are Zionists. Anti-Zionists are constantly attacked with allegations of anti-semitism, but they are not racist; they are opposed to the political belief of Zionism. Opposition to Zionism as a political ideology is not the same as hatred for Jewish people. Indeed, many Jews are also anti-Zionist and Sheffield Jews against Israeli Apartheid have publicly backed the motion. Jewish identity is not synonymous with any nationalist project. Conflating the two obscures real structural racism against Palestinians and undermines genuine efforts to combat antisemitism. This position aligns with the Green Party’s existing Anti-Racism policy. The Green Party can lead the way in breaking this conflation if they vote to support the Zionism is Racism motion.
The motion opposes an ethnonationalist Jewish settler colony to the exclusion/domination of non Jews, just as the Green Party would oppose a whites-only or Christian-only United Kingdom. The motion was written by Palestinians and anti-Zionist Jews, some of whom grew up in occupied Palestine and have direct, lived experience of this exclusionary system. The motion targets a political ideology, not a religion or ethnic group.
There are unfounded disciplinary fears about the motion. Zionism is Racism is an E Motion, which means it can not change party disciplinary structures. Only a D motion could do that. Claims that people will be expelled from the party for their religious practice are misinformation. The Green Party Code of Conduct exists to prevent harmful behaviour, not to police beliefs.
If you want to read more, the Zionism is Racism booklet can be downloaded for free here.
Here are two videos. If you are undecided about which way to vote on the motion, please take the time to watch these. There are 4 amendments to the motion. Please oppose amendments 1 to 3 and support amendment 4, which is supported by the proposers.
Lots of other important policy will be discussed at the conference. I have also backed motions to promote solidarity with Sudan and its people, (E14) The Nature, Biodiversity and National Security Act (E16) and late motion A179, Combatting the Burnham bounce, which revises advice on local election material content.
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