Polanski Will Not Overturn the Zionism Motion and Is Not Sorry
The Green leader said he would not try to reverse the members’ motion declaring Zionism a form of racism, that party rules bar amendment until 2028, and that he respects “the democratic will of our members”. Asked whether Israel has a right to exist, he said: “I don’t think any state has a right to exist under international law.”
The arithmetic is the part worth holding on to. The motion passed in Brighton earlier this month by 1,022 votes to 813, out of a membership of about 230,000 — so roughly eight in a thousand members settled the party’s position on the question now consuming it. Mr Polanski, who is Jewish, did not vote. Two amendments he supported were defeated: one removing the commitment to a single state, the other protecting Jewish members who attend synagogues that consider themselves Zionist. He called a two-state solution “for the birds”, said “I’m not sorry at all”, and on whether Zionism is racist replied that what is controversial is not the motion but the deaths in Gaza. The dissent is internal and named. A former co-leader said it is not “tenable for us to continue the next two years with this policy” and floated a ballot of all members. The chair of the Jewish Greens said there was “no excuse for his not participating”, and says polling of Jewish members was evenly split, which contradicts his claim that a majority supported it.