Green Party at crossroads following Palestine policy motion
Former Green co-leader warns the party is at a crucial crossroads after members backed a single democratic Palestinian state motion, triggering intense backlash.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- Green Party faces a critical crossroads following a contentious Palestine policy motion
- Leader Zack Polanski stated there is no environmental justice without social and economic justice
- Policy motion led to backlash from Jewish groups and rival political MPs
The Green Party of England and Wales is navigating a challenging period and a defining crossroads after its members endorsed a policy motion supporting the creation of a single democratic Palestinian state across historic Palestine, including modern-day Israel. The policy, adopted last month, immediately sparked a strong backlash from Jewish organizations and criticism from senior Green figures.
Green Party leader Zack Polanski, who is Jewish, responded by emphasizing that environmental justice cannot exist without social, racial, and economic justice. However, Polanski revealed he would not have voted for the Zionism motion and previously expressed his desire to see the imperfect motion amended in the future.
This policy shift has generated immediate political friction, highlighting the delicate balance small green parties face when engaging in complex international geopolitics. The involvement of human rights watchdogs and threats from local government partners underscore how foreign policy stances can directly jeopardize domestic coalitions and municipal cooperation.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
The fallout from the vote extended internationally as Israel's foreign ministry announced a ban preventing Polanski from entering the country. Additionally, the Equality and Human Rights Commission formally wrote to the Green Party requesting more information regarding the motion, following concerns raised by dozens of Labour and Liberal Democrat MPs alongside Jewish campaigners.
"I think there's a real crossroads point for the party at the moment."
Former Green Co-leader
Pressure mounted further when the Labour Party announced it would terminate power-sharing agreements with the Greens on local councils unless Green councillors disowned the controversial policy. A former co-leader who served from 2021 to 2025 warned that the party needs to refocus on its core aims and values, cautioning that such friction may stem from small groups on the hard left attempting to influence party operations.
Source: BBC Politics
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