UK Green Party leader Zack Polanski on Sunday defended his party's decision to adopt the 'Zionism is racism' policy, amid sustained media focus on the motion passed at the party's conference.
Speaking on the BBC's Sunday with Laura Keunssberg, Polanski said the motion would not be overturned, and pushed back against the notion that it was "controversial", pointing to the atrocities committed against Palestinians by Israel and other adherents of Zionism.
“What’s controversial is that 75,000 Palestinians have been murdered in the last few years, including more child amputees than ever in modern history," Polanski said, referring to Israel's genocidal war in Gaza. "So when you take that to account, the fact that they’re being murdered because they’re Palestinian – that’s very obviously a racist ideology.”
“I think Zionism is racism in the practical application of it. Now the conference had a debate about the motion, about the word. I said I think debates about words are unhelpful, and I still think that," he added.
Polanksi also dismissed Keunssberg's characterisation of Zionism as "ahistorical", after she said that "the creation of Israel itself by the United Nations was itself a response to racism".
Keunsberg also questioned the Green leader on whether he believed Israel had a "right to exist" -- a phrase frequently used by supporters of Israel.
“I don’t think any state has a right to exist under international law,” he said, while also highlighting Israel's opposition to a two-state solution.
Polanski did not vote for the 'Zionism is racism' motion at the Greens' conference earlier this month but has given his backing to the party's decision.
However, he has voiced concern about the motion's support for a one-state solution.
"At the first available opportunity, I do want to amend it - I want to move away from one state, towards saying that Israelis and Palestinians should decide that future for themselves," he said, adding that the policy would not be able to be changed until 2028 due to the party's rules.
Under Polanski's leadership, the Green Party has seen a bounce in support from left-leaning voters, many of whom left the Labour Party over the previous Starmer government's stance on Palestine.
The 'Zionism is racism motion' was passed on 4 October, attracting crticism from UK media outlets, Prime Minister Andy Burnham, and pro-Israel groups.
Polanski was not present at the party conference in Brighton at the time of the vote, due to his by-election campaign in the London seat of Holborn and St Pancras.
Since losing the race to Labour candidate Sagal Abdi Wali, questions have been raised about his future as party leader, however Polanski has said he will stay on.