Greens pass Israel ‘genocide’ motion at annual conference backed by hardline councillor
Deputy leader Zack Polanski also made speech at the conference criticising what he claimed was UK government 'complicity' in Gaza conflict
Lee Harpin is the Jewish News's political editor
The Greens have passed a motion at their annual conference describing Israel’s actions in Gaza a “genocide” which was proposed by a pro-Palestine grouping within the party.
Meanwhile deputy leader Zack Polanski has called for an arms ban on sales to Israel, claiming the UK government is complicit in violence in the Middle East.
A motion, which was passed at the party’s annual conference on Sunday afternoon, branded Israel’s assault on Gaza a “genocide” – and declared support for the Boycott, Divest and Sanctions (BDS) movement.
It said: “We affirm our commitment to explicitly supporting BDS in our internal and external communications going forward.
“Supporting the BDS movement is essential to holding Israel accountable, to supporting Palestinians’ rights to equality and self-determination, and to demonstrating that our support, as a nation, is not performative.”
Later Mothin Ali, a Green councillor in Leeds, who shouted “Allahu Akbar” and declared his May election victory to the people of Gaza, told Middle East Eye that the Greens had “shown leadership on the issue of the Gaza genocide” by passing the motion.
Ali spoke as a member of the Greens For Palestine group who proposed the motion.
“It’s a very positive step that party policy is in alignment with the view of the membership, along with the wider public,” he claimed.
Ali also posted on X:”We made history today, the first UK political party to officially recognise what’s happening in Gaza as Genocide, what’s happening in Palestine as Apartheid and continued support for BDS.
“We made sure the party followed through on it’s commitment made during the elections.”
In a speech last Friday party co-leader Adrian Ramsay MP claimed the Labour government’s partial suspension on arms sales to Israel was “half-hearted”.
Polanski, who is Jewish, said in his speech:”We recognise peace just can’t happen until we end our own government’s complicity in violence.
“We must end further arms sales to Israel – and to all countries breaking international law.”
The Greens were rocked with multiple allegations of antisemitism in the run-up to the general election.
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
