Jewish Greens chair says she could leave party over 'Zionism is racism' motion
Also reported by Guardian World
Summary
The chair of the Jewish Greens, Vivien Lichtenstein, said she might leave the Green Party after the party adopted a motion calling Zionism a form of racism. The motion also supports a single Palestinian state covering all historic Palestine, including modern Israel, which has drawn criticism from Jewish groups and Israel’s foreign ministry.Key Facts
- The Green Party of England and Wales passed a motion defining Zionism as an ethnonationalist and racist ideology.
- The motion supports creating one democratic Palestinian state in all historic Palestine with equal rights and includes the right of return for Palestinians.
- Vivien Lichtenstein, chair of the Jewish Greens, opposes the motion and may leave the party because of it.
- The motion was approved by 1,022 votes to 813 at the party conference in Brighton, with 230,000 party members overall.
- Some Jewish groups, like the Board of Deputies of British Jews and Jewish Leadership Council, say Zionism fights racism by providing a home for Jews.
- Lichtenstein said the motion was not helpful to Palestinians suffering in Gaza and the West Bank and was made without consulting Jewish Greens adequately.
- The UK and 11 allies officially support a two-state solution, but the Green Party’s motion backs a one-state solution.
- The Green Party leader, Zack Polanski, who is Jewish, has asked for changes to the motion to protect Jewish members.
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