The Green Party of the United Kingdom supported a resolution at its annual conference that proposes to view Zionism as a form of racism. The document was adopted by a majority of delegates and immediately sparked widespread public and political resonance. A total of 1,022 conference participants voted in favor of the initiative, while 813 opposed it. The adopted document states that Zionism should be treated "just like any other form of racism." Additionally, the party expressed support for the idea of creating a single democratic Palestinian state in the territory of historic Palestine. According to party representatives, the discussion of this issue had been ongoing for a considerable time and was accompanied by active internal debates. The decision prompted an immediate reaction from Israel. The country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs labeled the document as "unequivocally anti-Semitic," and the head of the foreign ministry, Gideon Sa'ar, announced a ban on entry into Israel for the leader of the British Greens, Zack Polanski. Israeli President Isaac Herzog also sharply criticized the party's decision. He stated that Zionism is a national liberation movement of the Jewish people and is the basis for the right of Jews to their own state. Criticism also arose within the United Kingdom. Minister for Women and Equalities Bridget Phillipson, representing the ruling Labour Party, stated that such a position effectively questions Israel's right to exist and offends many British Jews. Similar statements were made by the largest Jewish organizations in the country — the Board of Deputies, Community Security Trust, and Jewish Leadership Council. They emphasized that they consider the decision unprecedented for a major British political party and expressed concern about its possible consequences for the safety of the Jewish community. The Green Party is currently represented by five MPs in the House of Commons; however, in recent years, it has strengthened its position in local elections and has begun to attract some voters dissatisfied with the government's policy regarding the war between Israel and Hamas. At the same time, the issue has caused disagreements within the party itself. According to AFP, at least three of the five Green Party MPs in the House of Commons opposed the adoption of this resolution. The conference's decision is likely to become one of the most discussed topics in British politics in the near future, as it has already provoked international reactions and intensified the discussion surrounding the conflict in the Middle East.
