Statement on Green Party ZiR motion (No 2)

The Green Party conference motion, ‘Zionism Is Racism’, is inflammatory and socially divisive.

It summarily charges a minority British community with the crime of racism and recklessly implicates it in Israel’s occupation and genocide, creating fear and insecurity. 
The Green Party motion fails to make a clear distinction between the ultra-nationalist Zionism propagated at the barrel of a gun, and the spiritual Zionism of ordinary British Jews practiced peacefully in synagogues and around Friday night dinner tables. Creating a generalised association between Zionism and racism is simplistic, deeply irresponsible and endangers our Jewish friends and neighbours. 
Finally, whilst the motion would purport to champion the just cause of Palestinians, it actually brings the campaign into disrepute and provides rhetorical ammunition for the Israeli Government and its apologists. It is counter-productive and undermines the growing consensus that Israel’s current actions are illegitimate.

We call for unity and urge the Hastings Green Party to renounce the motion at the earliest opportunity.