The Green Party of England and Wales put a motion defining Zionism as racism to a vote at its annual conference in Brighton on Sunday. The motion was adopted by 1,022 votes to 813, making it official party policy.
The text argues that Zionism should be treated in the same way as other forms of racism. It states that Zionism is inherently racist because it privileges one ethnic group on the basis of subordinating others.
The party's policy on Palestine
A party spokesperson said the decision demonstrated the Green Party's opposition to Zionism, which the party defines as "an ethno-nationalist political project." The spokesperson said opposition to Zionism should not be equated with antisemitism.

The spokesperson also reiterated the party's commitment to freedom and the right of return for Palestinians. They said the party supported the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement and a comprehensive arms embargo on Israel.
Noting that the Green Party defines itself as an anti-racist party, the spokesperson said it opposed what the party describes as the "unlawful occupation" of Israel and Syrian territory.
The scope of the motion
The motion states that its target is the defined political ideology and practice of Zionism. It emphasizes that the approach does not target the religious or ethnic background of people who identify as Zionists.

The text also states that not all Jews are Zionists and not all Zionists are Jewish. The party bases this approach on international instruments, including the 1973 Apartheid Convention and the 1998 Rome Statute.
The party's 2024 decision
In 2024, the Green Party of England and Wales became the first political party to recognize the Israeli government as an "apartheid" state.