Young Greens to vote on plan saying support for ‘right to resist occupation’ is not antisemitic

Young members of the Green Party are set to vote on proposals stating that support for a “right to resist occupation” should not be considered antisemitic, prompting concern from Jewish organisations.

The proposals will be debated at the Young Greens’ annual conference in London on 18 and 19 July. They also say that anti-Zionism and support for boycotting Israeli goods should not automatically be treated as antisemitic.

According to the Telegraph, which first reported the proposals, the draft guidance makes no distinction between peaceful and violent forms of resistance.

A document circulated to members says the aim is to protect both Jewish members and freedom of political expression on issues relating to Israel and the Palestinians.

It states: “A robust antisemitism framework must be both genuinely protective of Jewish members and genuinely protective of free political expression including Palestinian solidarity, criticism of Israeli state policy, and anti-Zionist political analysis.

“(Current guidance) is unfit for purpose and should not be reinstated: it cites politically loaded authorities as neutral scholars and frames anti-Zionism as presumptively suspicious.”

The proposals would replace guidance that currently refers to both the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) working definition of antisemitism and the Jerusalem Declaration on Antisemitism.

The IHRA definition, which has been adopted by the Labour, Conservative and Liberal Democrat parties, says that, depending on the context, denying the Jewish people’s right to self-determination, applying double standards to Israel or comparing Israel with Nazi Germany can amount to antisemitism.

The Jerusalem Declaration, developed as an alternative framework, argues that anti-Zionism is not, by itself, antisemitic.

Jewish organisations said the proposed changes risk making the party less welcoming for young Jewish members.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism said: “Once again, a faction in UK politics is trying to redefine antisemitism to suit its views.

“Young Greens should actually consult a representative of the mainstream Jewish community.

“Attachment to Israel is at the heart of Jewish identity, and the effort to sever that connection is at the core of contemporary antisemitism.”

Alex Hearn, co-director of Labour Against Antisemitism, accused the Young Greens of attempting to “delegitimise the very notion of antisemitism.”

The proposals come weeks after another dispute within the Green Party over its approach to antisemitism. Earlier this month, the party’s Global Majority Greens (GMG) group claimed antisemitism complaints were given greater priority than other forms of discrimination and said Muslim members and supporters of “Palestinian liberation” had been unfairly targeted by the party’s disciplinary processes.

Jewish News has contacted the Green Party for comment.