Jewish Greens chair says she may quit over Green Party motion labeling Zionism racism

On 10 May 2026 the chair of the Jewish Greens, Vivien Lichtenstein, said she may resign from the Green Party after members adopted a motion that describes Zionism as a form of racism and calls for a single democratic Palestinian state across historic Palestine.

The development deepens a rift within the party, raising questions about how a movement rooted in environmental and social‑justice values will handle accusations of racism and the broader debate over Israeli‑Palestinian policy.

I haven’t decided yet…It is quite possible that I will leave the party…I’m giving it a little time and to talk with colleagues.

The motion, put forward by activists at the Brighton conference, passed by 1,022 votes to 813. It defines Zionism as “an ideology supporting an ethnonationalist Jewish state” and endorses the establishment of “a single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital, equal rights for all, and the right of return for Palestinians and their descendants.”

Lichtenstein, who leads the Jewish Greens, said she has opposed the motion from the outset, arguing it “crosses a line” and fails to reflect the diverse views within the Jewish Greens community. She described herself as “both Zionist and anti‑Zionist depending on the definition,” and noted that the proposers did not consult the Jewish Greens when drafting the policy.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski, also Jewish, attempted to amend the motion to add protections for Jewish members and remove the phrase “single democratic Palestinian state,” but both amendments were defeated. Four of the party’s five MPs – Ellie Chowns, Adrian Ramsay, Carla Denyer and Sian Berry – publicly opposed the motion, while other senior figures were divided.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews, the Jewish Leadership Council, and the Movement for Progressive Judaism all condemned the motion as antisemitic, with Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis calling it “poisonous antisemitism, a threat to British Jews and to Britain.” Israel’s foreign ministry responded by banning Polanski from entering the country.

Outside the party, Labour chair Bridget Phillipson and Conservative shadow home secretary Chris Philp criticised the motion as a “crossing of a line,” and Liberal Democrat MP Luke Taylor called it “divisive.” The motion arrives as the UK and its allies reaffirm support for a two‑state solution, a stance Israel continues to reject.

Lichtenstein said she will continue discussions with colleagues before making a final decision, leaving the party facing a potential loss of a senior Jewish voice and an ongoing struggle to balance its anti‑racism commitments with internal dissent.