Israel bans Polanski and accuses Greens of 'legitimising terrorism' after 'Zionism is racism' vote
From the Newshound archive · first published 2 October 2026 · last updated 5 October 2026.
Zack Polanski, who pointedly declined to address the motion or antisemitism concerns of Jewish Green members in his conference speech, leads a party now warned it risks becoming the first electorally significant UK…
Israel has barred Green Party leader Zack Polanski from entering the country after members voted to declare Zionism a form of racism at their Brighton conference. Foreign minister Gideon Sa'ar acted after 1,022 delegates backed the motion — against 813 opposed — with Israel calling it "a clear antisemitic text" that legitimises "the destruction of the State of Israel." Former Green deputy leader Shahrar Ali said the party had become "the first openly anti-Semitic party in the UK." Polanski himself skipped the vote, having left Brighton to campaign in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election.
Israel called on every British party, including Labour, to "unequivocally reject this twisted resolution."
Three former Green leaders — Caroline Lucas, Adrian Ramsay and Carla Denyer — had warned the motion was divisive and would alienate Jewish members.
Polanski was separately revealed to have claimed on his podcast there are "definitely examples" of the Israeli military staging false flag attacks.
