Historic Move: UK Party Supports One-State Solution and Defines Zionism as Racism
The Green Party of England and Wales has decided to declare Zionism as a form of racism in an unprecedented move at the party conference in Brighton. The party also expressed support for a single state across the entire Palestinian region, including areas controlled by Israel.
A vote by party members on Sunday made it the first major party in the UK to recognise Zionism as a form of racism, while also supporting a democratic Palestinian state with equal rights for all ethnic and religious groups, rather than a two-state solution.
A total of 1,022 members voted in favour of the motion, while 8ly 813 members voted against it.
Co-Deputy Leader Mothin Ali told Middle East Eye (MEE) on Sunday that he strongly supported the motion, in contrast to Green Party MPs Carla Denyer and Adrian Ramsay, who criticised it.
“As defined in the motion,” Ali said, “Zionism is an ethno-nationalist state. Zionism leads to ethnic cleansing, based on the belief that one group of people is superior to others.”
He added: “I am now a committed anti-racist. I entered politics through anti-racism and anti-war movements. Since then, I have gained a deep understanding of the forms of racism, both structural and personal.”
“The belief that one group is superior to another—that is something I absolutely cannot accept.”
Green Party members rejected an amendment to the motion which stated that the motion “should not be used to suppress, prohibit, or impose disciplinary sanctions on members based on their affiliation with Jewish community institutions—such as synagogues, community centres, or denominational groups—that identify as Zionist; nor used to discipline or sanction Jewish members for expressing views that would not be subject to sanctions if expressed by non-Jewish members (such as support for a binational state or a two-state solution).”
However, according to an internal party source to MEE, members did vote to support an amendment recognising the “absolute right to self-determination” for the Palestinian people.
On Sunday morning, Ali told MEE that he believed the motion would change the political discourse in the UK. “In 2024, the Green Party recognised the ongoing genocide in Gaza, preceding other major political parties.”
“So, we have always been pioneers on this issue; we lead on human rights issues, wherever they occur. We invite other political parties to join us. We encourage this debate to take place within society.”