Haringey's Green council leader claims 'weaponisation of antisemitism' harms Jews after a synagogue rejects his reassurances over Zionism motion

Mark Blake, the Green leader of Haringey Council, made the claim in a public letter to Labour MPs Catherine West, Bambos Charalambous and David Lammy. Highgate United Synagogue had demanded that he distance himself from his party's 'Zionism is Racism' conference motion. He refused, writing that 'criticism of Zionism is not the same as antisemitism'. He said he stands 'for Palestinian liberation and against antisemitism'.

Blake told the three MPs that they had 'failed to recognise' what the motion actually says.

Green leader Zack Polanski, who is Jewish, did not take part in the conference vote.

Edinburgh councillors will debate a motion to formally condemn the Green motion on October 29.