Greens in the UK Prepare to Vote Motion That Critics Say Could Support Terrorism, Threaten Jewish Members, and Reshape Party Identity

British politics is no stranger to internal rows, but what is unfolding inside the Green Party of England and Wales has sparked alarm well beyond party lines.

A motion set to be considered ahead of the party’s spring conference is drawing fierce criticism because of what it proposes — and what opponents say it truly means.

At the heart of the controversy is a proposal titled “Zionism is Racism.”

Supporters claim it reflects solidarity with Palestinians.

Critics argue it crosses a line into endorsing violence and marginalising British Jews.

The vote has not yet taken place.

But the debate alone has already ignited a political firestorm.

What the Motion Actually Says

If approved, the motion would commit the party to backing Palestinian “resistance” against Israel “by all available means under international law.”

Supporters say that phrase is legally grounded.

However, one of the motion’s champions, barrister Franck Magennis, openly described it as a “euphemistic way” of affirming Palestinians’ right to armed struggle — and that the party should support it.

The document also calls for the party to formally declare itself anti-Zionist.

Zionism, broadly defined as the belief in the development and protection of a Jewish homeland in Israel, would be treated “as any other form of racism.”

Critics argue that such wording would effectively label the overwhelming majority of British Jews — many of whom identify as Zionist — as inherently racist.

The People Behind the Push

The motion is being proposed by Lubna Speitan, a British Palestinian artist who says she has been overwhelmed by what she calls “record-breaking” grassroots support.

She has previously made clear that she backs armed struggle as a path to liberation, arguing that what was taken “by force” must be returned “by force.”

Magennis, a barrister at Garden Court Chambers, has also publicly supported efforts to remove Hamas from the UK’s proscribed terror list.

At an online event promoting the motion, he argued it was important to “publicly proclaim support” for armed resistance and described Zionism as a “fascist ideology.”

The debate inevitably brings Hamas into focus.

The group — formally known as Hamas — is designated as a terrorist organisation in the UK and several other countries.

Its October 7, 2023 attack on Israel left around 1,200 people dead and triggered the ongoing Gaza war.

A Social Media Campaign to Influence the Vote

Perhaps just as striking as the content of the motion is the campaign around it.

Videos circulating on TikTok, X and YouTube reportedly provide step-by-step guides encouraging people to join the Green Party specifically to vote in favour of the proposal.

Under party rules, motions must first pass a prioritisation ballot before reaching conference debate.

A spokesperson stressed that the proposal is not current party policy and must clear several hurdles before any formal adoption.

Still, critics say the coordinated online recruitment drive shows how seriously activists are taking this vote.

Jewish Groups Sound the Alarm

The reaction from Jewish organisations has been swift and severe.

The Campaign Against Antisemitism warned that because most British Jews identify as Zionist, branding Zionism as racism risks declaring them racist by default.

The group described the motion as paving the way for a “frightening witch-hunt.”

Similarly, the Board of Deputies of British Jews said the proposal threatens to make the party a hostile environment for Jewish members.

Some Jewish Green Party members have reportedly told media outlets they fear for their safety if the motion passes.

One member has even reported the party to counter-terrorism police over the issue.

Comparisons to Labour’s Antisemitism Crisis

The row has drawn comparisons to the antisemitism crisis that engulfed the Labour Party under former leader Jeremy Corbyn.

John Mann, the UK government’s independent adviser on antisemitism, said the motion represents overt support for terrorism and racism against Jews.

He claimed the situation goes “well beyond” what happened under Corbyn — a striking assessment given how damaging that episode was for Labour politically.

During Corbyn’s tenure, Labour faced years of internal investigations, public protests, and electoral fallout over allegations of antisemitism.

Critics now warn that the Greens risk walking into similar turmoil.

The Leadership’s Delicate Position

Green leader Zack Polanski has so far declined to condemn the motion outright, saying interpretations of Zionism vary.

That stance has raised eyebrows, particularly because his own mother has previously expressed support for Israel on social media — meaning she could theoretically fall under the motion’s definition of racism.

Deputy leader Mothin Ali is also said to back the proposal.

Past social media posts in which he appeared to frame Hamas fighters as “indigenous people defending themselves” have resurfaced, intensifying scrutiny.

The party leadership appears to be walking a tightrope: respecting internal democracy while trying to avoid reputational damage.

International Fallout

The issue has not remained confined to domestic politics.

Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sharren Haskel described the motion as hateful and racist, arguing it calls for Israel’s destruction and justifies terrorism.

The motion’s call for a “single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine, with Jerusalem as its capital” is seen by critics as effectively erasing Israel as a Jewish state — a position that clashes with the widely endorsed two-state solution framework backed by much of the international community.

A Party at a Crossroads

For decades, the Green Party was associated primarily with environmental causes — renewable energy, climate change mitigation, opposition to nuclear power.

Now, critics say, it risks being defined by a foreign policy battle that could reshape its identity.

Supporters argue the motion reflects moral clarity and solidarity with oppressed people.

Opponents warn it could alienate Jewish members, damage electoral prospects, and saddle the party with accusations of extremism.

Either way, the debate has already changed the conversation around the Greens.

What’s Next?

Before anything becomes official policy, the motion must first succeed in the party’s prioritisation ballot.

If it clears that stage, it will then be debated and voted on at the spring conference.

If it passes, the Greens could face internal resignations, potential investigations, and significant political backlash.

If it fails, tensions inside the party are unlikely to disappear overnight.

The coming weeks will determine whether this remains an internal dispute — or becomes a defining chapter in the party’s national story.

Summary

The Green Party is preparing to vote on a controversial “Zionism is Racism” motion that critics say would effectively endorse armed Palestinian resistance and label most British Jews as racist.

Backed by activists and amplified through social media recruitment campaigns, the proposal has drawn condemnation from Jewish groups, antisemitism advisers, and Israeli officials.

Party leaders have so far stopped short of denouncing it outright.

The motion must first pass internal ballots before any final decision is made, but the political and reputational stakes are already high.