---
title: "Green Party votes to classify Zionism as racism"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/green-party-votes-to-classify-zionism-as-racism"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/green-party-votes-to-classify-zionism-as-racism"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/green-party-votes-to-classify-zionism-as-racism.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/green-party-votes-to-classify-zionism-as-racism"
category: "Politics"
area: "United Kingdom"
published: "2026-10-06T00:45:51.366Z"
source_reported: "2026-10-05T21:59:29.000Z"
updated: "2026-10-06T00:45:51.366Z"
trust_score: 42
critic_score: 57
hype_score: 41
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-10-06T02:45:19.941410+00:00"
---

# Green Party votes to classify Zionism as racism

*Motion passed by 1,022 votes to 813, with party leader calling it an 'unhelpful distraction'.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named bodies, with two independent outlets and a document cited.
- Craft 57 of 100, higher is better. Reporting includes quotes from affected parties and names specific figures, dates, and places.
- Hype 41 of 100, lower is better. Headlines use loaded adjectives and present the story with notable sensationalism.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- The Green Party of England and Wales has passed a motion stating that Zionism is racism.
- The motion was approved by 1,022 votes to 813 at the party's conference.
- Party leader Zack Polanski described the motion as an 'unhelpful distraction'.
- An amendment to protect Jewish members affiliated with organisations supporting Israel's right to exist was voted down.

The Green Party of England and Wales has passed a motion classifying Zionism as racism. The decision was made by a vote of 1,022 in favour to 813 against at the party's conference. Party leader Zack Polanski described the motion as an 'unhelpful distraction'. An amendment intended to protect Jewish members affiliated with organisations that support Israel's right to exist was voted down.

## Disagreements in reporting

Newsweek reported that party leader Zack Polanski and 'some other senior party figures' stayed away from the conference for the debate and vote, suggesting this indicated cynicism. Al Jazeera reported that Polanski was away campaigning during the vote, and that four of the party's five MPs opposed parts of the resolution.

## What the coverage left out

None of the left-rated digests mention the specific vote count of 1,022 in favour to 813 against. None of the centre-rated reports mention the specific vote count. None of the right-rated digests mention the specific vote count.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 6 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 33% (2)
- Centre: 67% (4)
- Right: 0% (0)

1 of 7 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-06T02:45:19.941410+00:00.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 8 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-06T03:00:21.300Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- Left-rated reports focused on the Green Party's decision to classify Zionism as racism and its implications. Several reports highlighted that the party backed a 'single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine' (Source 6, 16). Some noted that this move exposed divisions within the party, with four of its five MPs opposing parts of the resolution (Source 2, 4, 14, 17, 19, 23). The Independent (US) suggested the motion 'blows any chance of a coalition with Labour' (Source 23). Haaretz noted that 'Jews in U.K. Greens weigh costs of 'Zionism is Racism' motion', suggesting that even anti-Zionist members questioned its implications for Jewish membership and electoral viability (Source 19). The Canary reported that 'Israel lobbyists ranted and raged' against the motion (Source 27).

### Centre

- Centre-rated reports highlighted the Green Party's vote to classify Zionism as racism and the internal divisions it caused. BBC News reported that the 'Jewish Greens chair says she could leave party over 'Zionism is racism' motion' (Source 6). Newsweek noted that the party leader described the motion as an 'unhelpful distraction' and that senior figures stayed away from the vote (Source 1).

### Right

- Right-rated reports focused on condemnation of the Green Party's decision. GB News reported that 'Downing Street has hit out at the Green Party's 'Zionism is racism' vote, blasting the decision as 'shameful'' (Source 9). The Jewish Chronicle reported that the 'Chair of Amnesty leaves Green Party over ‘antisemitic motion’' (Source 15). VINnews quoted the Combat Antisemitism Movement denouncing the resolution as a 'Disturbing Inversion of Values' (Source 12).

**Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- mixed: 3
- unknown: 1
- veryHigh: 3

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [Telegraph & Argus](https://thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/news/national/26609638.greens-will-not-accept-exclusion-people-based-religion---polanski) — Greens will ‘not accept any exclusion’ of people based on religion – Polanski
- [dailymail.com](https://dailymail.com/debate/article-16185099/DAN-HODGES-History-record-Zack-Polanski-coward-charlatan-led-decent-party-political-oblivion.html) — DAN HODGES: History will record Zack Polanski as a coward
- [Norge IDAG](https://idag.no/britiske-gronne-vedtok-sionisme-er-rasisme-moter-kraftig-fordommelse/19.53849) — British Greens Adopt 'Zionism Is Racism' Resolution – Faces Strong Condemnation
- [islamchannel.tv](https://islamchannel.tv/green-party-becomes-first-major-uk-party-to-recognise-zionism-as-racism) — Green Party becomes first major UK party to recognise Zionism as racism
- [BBC News](https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cjy56yxxwy3po) — I won't accept exclusion, says Polanski after backlash to Zionist motion
- [Evening Standard](https://standard.co.uk/news/politics/green-party-zack-polanski-zionism-greens-b1299647.html) — Greens will ‘not accept any exclusion’ of people based on religion – Polanski
- [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/uk/home-news/green-party-zack-polanski-ephraim-mirvis-zionism-greens-b3061808.html) — Greens will ‘not accept any exclusion’ of people based on religion – Polanski
- [Unknown](https://alquds.co.uk/%D8%AE%D8%B6%D8%B1-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A7-%D8%B5%D9%87%D9%8A%D9%88%D9%86%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%86%D8%B5%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%81%D9%8A-%D9%81%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B7%D9%8A%D9%86) — Green Britain: a Racist Zionism in Historic Palestine
- [Nation.Cymru](https://nation.cymru/news/greens-will-not-accept-any-exclusion-of-people-based-on-religion-polanski) — Greens will ‘not accept any exclusion’ of people based on religion – Polanski
- [Novara Media](https://novaramedia.com/2026/10/05/green-party-declares-zionism-is-racism) — Green Party Declares Zionism IS Racism
- [Channel 4](https://channel4.com/news/israels-very-essence-is-built-on-racism-says-green-party-activist) — Israel’s ‘very essence is built on racism’, says Green Party activist
- [Helsingin Sanomat](https://hs.fi/maailma/art-2000012321044.html) — Anti-Semitism | Jewish Organizations Shocked when England's Green Party Labeled Zionism "Racism"
- [Daily Mirror](https://mirror.co.uk/news/politics/zack-polanski-green-zionism-racism-37735368) — Zack Polanski rocked by resignation and Jewish Greens chief says she may quit
- [Courrier international](https://courrierinternational.com/article/politique-le-sionisme-est-un-racisme-les-verts-britanniques-adoptent-dans-la-douleur-une-motion-controversee_276163) — "Zionism Is a Racism": British Greens Adopt a Controversial Motion in Pain
- [Sapo](https://24noticias.sapo.pt/atualidade/artigos/partido-verde-britanico-classifica-sionismo-como-racismo-e-volta-a-gerar-polemica-sob-lideranca-de-polanski) — British Green Party Classifies Zionism as Racism and Re-Creates Controversy Under Polanski's Leadership
- [koutipandoras.gr](https://koutipandoras.gr/article/vretanoi-prasinoi-o-sionismos-einai-ratsismos-ena-eniaio-dimokratiko-palaistiniako-kratos-se-oli-tin-istoriki-palaistini) — British Greens: "Zionism Is Racism - A Single Democratic Palestinian State Across All of Historic Palestine" | Pandora's Box
- [Newsweek](https://newsweek.com/anti-zionism-racism-green-party-israel-gaza-12524410) — The righteous racism of the British Greens is a warning to America
- [BizToc](https://biztoc.com/x/d89dd53881dc8ca2) — The Righteous Racism of British Greens Is a Warning to America
- [GB News](https://gbnews.com/politics/zionism-row-no10-hits-out-shameful-greens-zionism-is-racism-vote) — Andy Burnham's No10 hits out at 'shameful' Green vote labelling Zionism as racism
- [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/zack-polanski-green-zionism-racism-bunrham-labour-b3061440.html) — The Greens’ ‘Zionism is racism’ motion blows any chance of a coalition with Labour
- [Il Post](https://ilpost.it/2026/10/05/verdi-britannici-mozione-sionismo) — A Radical Motion by the British Greens Against Israel
- [Haaretz](https://haaretz.com/world-news/2026-10-05/ty-article-magazine/.premium/jews-in-u-k-greens-weigh-political-cost-of-zionism-is-racism-motion/000001a1-0bcc-d94f-a9fd-cbef4e100000) — Jews in U.K. Greens weigh costs of 'Zionism is Racism' motion
- [Al Jazeera](https://aljazeera.com/news/2026/10/5/before-uk-greens-who-else-has-equated-zionism-with-racism) — Before UK Greens, who else has equated Zionism with racism?
- [eJewish Philanthropy](https://ejewishphilanthropy.com/british-jews-including-on-the-left-rail-against-green-partys-zionism-is-racism-motion) — British Jews, including on the left, rail against Green Party’s ‘Zionism is racism’ motion
- [The Cradle](https://thecradle.co/articles-id/40339) — UK Green Party declares Zionism a form of racism, backs single democratic Palestinian state
- [VINnews](https://vinnews.com/2026/10/05/disturbing-inversion-of-values-cam-denounces-uk-green-partys-zionism-is-racism-resolution) — ‘Disturbing Inversion of Values’: CAM Denounces UK Green Party’s ‘Zionism Is Racism’ Resolution
- [blitzquotidiano.it](https://blitzquotidiano.it/politica/per-i-verdi-britannici-il-sionismo-va-equiparato-a-una-forma-di-razzismo-la-mozione-approvata-3804921) — For the British Greens, Zionism Must Be Treated as "a Form of racism."
- [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/uk/politics/zack-polanski-green-zionism-racism-bunrham-labour-b3061440.html) — The Greens’ ‘Zionism is racism’ motion blows any chance of a coalition with Labour
- [Aporrea](https://aporrea.org/ddhh/n424317.html) — The World Is Beginning to Wake up in the Face of Genocide: Green Party of England Adopts a Resolution that Classifies Zionism as Racism
- [Yves Engler](https://yvesengler.com/2026/10/05/greens-label-zionism-a-form-of-racism) — Greens label Zionism “a form of racism”
- [The Jewish Chronicle](https://thejc.com/news/politics/chair-of-amnesty-leaves-green-party-over-antisemitic-motion-q9rf7av9) — Chair of Amnesty leaves Green Party over ‘antisemitic motion’
- [BBC News](https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cm4g1dxe50nyo) — Jewish Greens chair says she could leave party over 'Zionism is racism' motion
- [If Americans Knew Blog](https://israelpalestinenews.org/as-genocide-drags-on-zionism-is-racism-becomes-official-policy-in-one-uk-party-daily-update) — One UK party's official policy: "Zionism is racism"– Daily Update
- [.týždeň - iný pohľad na spoločnosť](https://tyzden.sk/svet/139757/britska-strana-zelenych-schvalila-definiciu-sionizmu-ako-formy-rasizmu-co-vyvolalo-ostru-kritiku) — The British Green Party Has Approved the Definition of Zionism as a Form of Racism, Which Has Sparked Criticism - What Does It Mean According to T. Zálešák
- [The National](https://thenational.scot/news/26605671.greens-back-zionism-racism-motion-intense-debate) — English and Welsh Greens back 'Zionism is racism' motion
- [The Canary](https://thecanary.co/skwawkbox/2026/10/04/green-party-to-boycott-israel) — BREAKING: Greens also vote overwhelmingly to boycott Israel

## Questions

**What decision did the Green Party make regarding Zionism?**

The Green Party of England and Wales passed a motion at its conference classifying Zionism as a form of racism. This decision was made by a vote of 1,022 in favour to 813 against.

**How did the party leader respond to the motion?**

Party leader Zack Polanski described the motion as an 'unhelpful distraction'. Some reports indicate he and other senior figures were not present for the debate and vote.

**Was there an attempt to protect Jewish members within the party?**

Yes, an amendment was proposed to protect Jewish members affiliated with organisations that support Israel's right to exist. However, this amendment was voted down by 1,026 votes to 684.

**What has been the reaction to the Green Party's decision?**

The Israeli government and President Isaac Herzog condemned the decision. Right-rated reports highlighted condemnation from Downing Street and Jewish organisations, with one report noting the chair of Amnesty left the Green Party over the motion.

---

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