Full Breakdown
Green Party’s anti-Zionism motion triggers Israeli entry ban for leader
By Drooid · · How we work
Core event: Motion and Israeli entry ban
The motion also labels the aspiration of the Jewish people for self-determination as “racist”. In response, Israel’s foreign ministry announced that Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar has decided to bar Green Party leader Zack Polanski from entering Israel, describing the resolution as “a clear antisemitic text” under the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition.
Reactions from UK political figures
Former Green co-leader Adrian Ramsay said he was “deeply saddened” that the motion does not reflect the party’s long-standing principles of equal rights and self-determination for both Israelis and Palestinians. Labour MP Bridget Phillipson condemned the vote as “shameful” and urged the Green leadership to clarify that it will not adopt this position moving forward. Green Party MPs and deputies issued a joint statement affirming their commitment to universal human rights, opposition to genocide, ethnic cleansing, apartheid and the illegal occupation, and insisted there is no conflict between supporting Palestinian rights and Jewish rights.
Official statements & responses
A Green Party spokesperson clarified that the motion does not affect disciplinary procedures or party governance and reiterated the party’s anti-racist stance. The Board of Deputies of British Jews described the Greens as an “extremist party” and called the resolution an “antisemitic platform” that distorts Jewish experience.
Verbatim quotes
- “Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar has decided this evening to declare Green Party leader Zack Polanski barred from entering Israel” — foreign ministry
- “I'm deeply saddened that this motion has been passed. It doesn't reflect my view, and it doesn't reflect long-standing Green principles, which are about equal rights to all communities around the world, to self-determination, and that has to apply to both Israelis and Palestinians,” — Mr Ramsay
- “It is fundamentally wrong and the leadership of the Green Party must make clear that this will not be their position moving forwards.” — Today
- “As Green Party leaders and MPs, we will always uphold universal human rights.” — Green Party MPs