The Green Party, on the brink of electoral breakthroughs in local councils and eyeing long-term gains, is grappling with internal divisions over antisemitism allegations. Zack Polanski, the party's Jewish leader, has condemned the political weaponisation of antisemitism, urging a serious approach to the issue without exploiting it for political gain.
Internal Tensions and Membership Growth
With membership swelling past 220,000, the party has seen a surge in scrutiny of comments by candidates and activists. Elise Benjamin, a former Green councillor in Oxford with over 30 years of membership, expressed bittersweet feelings about the party's growth. She called for an urgent review of the complaints process to handle the increased membership effectively.
The stabbing of two Jewish men in Golders Green just days before elections brought the issue to the forefront. Two Green candidates in Lambeth were arrested for allegedly stirring up racial hatred with antisemitic posts online. Another candidate, Tina Ion in Newcastle, faced accusations over posts calling for the killing of Zionists, which she dismissed as isolated fragments.
Polanski's Controversial Stance
Polanski himself became embroiled in a public spat with the Metropolitan police chief after sharing a post questioning police force used in the Golders Green incident. He later apologised, acknowledging his responsibility to lower tensions. He has previously criticised the Campaign Against Antisemitism for conflating Jewish identity with support for Israel, arguing that antisemitism must be taken seriously but not weaponised.
Debate Over Zionism and Antisemitism
The party's internal debate mirrors broader societal tensions over Zionism. Critics see it as a colonial project, while supporters view it as a struggle for a Jewish homeland. Since the 7 October 2023 Hamas attack and Israel's response, arguments have played out in branch meetings and online. Some members accuse opponents of exaggerating antisemitism for political gain, while others point to a small but vocal core fixated on the Israel-Palestine issue.
Cases of Suspensions and Controversy
Mothin Ali, a deputy leader, faced backlash for comments on the 7 October attack and for describing a rabbi as a 'creep'. He later apologised but criticised Islamophobic attacks against him. Lubna Speitan, a British-Palestinian artist, co-authored a motion to designate Zionism as racism, which was blocked but may return at the autumn conference. Polanski supports the motion, while the Jewish Greens group opposes it, claiming it would proscribe Zionist members.
Leadership and Party Unity
Green MPs have largely stayed silent, partly out of loyalty to Polanski, who won a decisive mandate against two of the party's four MPs. Despite some dissent, most senior Greens support Polanski, crediting his media-friendly approach for the party's growth. However, some worry that describing Israel's actions as genocide has opened the door to bad-faith attacks. The party's challenge is to unite long-term members and new supporters behind core values while navigating these divisive issues.
