Green Party Zionism motion sparks backlash and investigation

Summarised from 2 outlets · 3 reports · Updated 17 Oct, 15:44 · Archive

The Green Party's motion defining Zionism as racist has prompted Labour to threaten withdrawal of council cooperation and investigations into supporters.

The Green Party's annual conference passed a motion defining Zionism as an ideology supporting 'an ethnonationalist Jewish state' by 1,022 votes to 813, making it party policy. The motion was backed by 745 supporters including Rebecca Jones, a GP and party councillor in Lewisham, south-east London, elected in May.

Scottish Green co-leader Gillian Mackay said the debate around whether Zionism is racism is 'unhelpful' to seeking peace in the Middle East, as it 'focuses on definitions rather than actually focusing on how we achieve peace for the region as a whole'. When asked if Israel had a right to exist, she described the question as 'a difficult one', but added that Israel 'absolutely should have the right to have somewhere to be and to be able to live in peace'.

Labour announced it will cut ties with the party at council level in England and Wales if representatives do not disavow the motion. The Daily Mail reports that Dr Jones, known as 'The Vegan Doctor', is facing disciplinary proceedings from the General Medical Council over social media posts including one saying 'Burn Zionism to the ground'. Dr Jones has told her followers the investigation is an attempt to 'censor and silence doctors' who speak against 'genocide and apartheid in Palestine'.

How it is being reported

• Green behind party's 'Zionism is racism' motion is 'Vegan Doctor' being probed by medical regulator over support for 'death to IDF' chantsA GP under investigation after making anti-Israel social media posts is among those behind the Green Party's controversial 'Zionism is racism' motion, The Mail on Sunday can reveal.Daily Mail · 17 Oct, 15:33
• Zionism is racism debate ‘unhelpful’, says Scottish Green co-leaderThe party’s co-leader described the question of Israel’s right to exist as a ‘difficult one’.Evening Standard · 17 Oct, 14:57
• Zionism is racism debate ‘unhelpful’, says Scottish Green co-leaderThe party’s co-leader described the question of Israel’s right to exist as a ‘difficult one’.Evening Standard · 17 Oct, 14:23

In this story: Green Party · Labour · Gillian Mackay · Rebecca Jones · Scottish Greens · Israel · Palestine · Lewisham

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