Controversial 'Zionism is Racism' motion back on the Green agenda for Autumn conference

By SOPHIE CHURCH - POLITICAL REPORTER Published: 22:23, 12 June 2026 | Updated: 22:23, 12 June 2026 The Green Party's highly controversial 'Zionism is Racism' motion will return to their upcoming autumn conference, the Daily Mail can confirm. The motion, which effectively calls for Israel to be replaced by a 'single democratic Palestinian state', was brought to the Greens' spring conference earlier this year, but failed to pass after members filibustered to prevent it being heard. Technical issues also prevented members voting. But pro-Palestine activists within the Greens have now proposed the motion again for the party's upcoming autumn conference – renewing accusations Zack Polanski is 'not serious' about tackling antisemitism within the party. Concerned members believe it is highly likely to be heard, and then passed, given motions returning to conference are given more heft in the party's 'prioritisation ballot'. Announcing the motion for the second time, its proposer Lubna Speitan wrote: 'We, the Palestinians of the Party are proud to be returning with our motion; ZIONISM IS RACISM for the autumn conference.' And she said the motion is 'the exact same wording' an internal Green committee had ruled in order for the spring conference. In comments seen by the Daily Mail attached to the motion, one Green member wrote: 'Palestinian self-determination is not simply keeping them racially segregated in Gaza and the ever-disappearing West Bank. 'Palestine must be freed, from the river to the sea. One state. Zionism can never allow this and that's why I support this motion unamended.' Lubna Speitan (pictured) announced the controversial motion for a second time  A social media campaign urged people to join the Green Party just to vote for the motion ahead of the party's spring conference The motion returns despite one member reporting the Greens to counter-terror police after it was first presented, claiming Zack Polanski's party was 'failing to protect its members' And another member even suggested nodding it through would win the Greens more votes. They wrote: 'Passing the motion is the right thing to do for Palestinians, for humanity, for international law and for GPEW's [Green Party of England and Wales] electoral success.' The motion's text calls for the Green Party to declare itself 'an anti-Zionist party', and affirms the Palestinian people's 'inalienable right to self-determination', including through 'resistance and liberation from Israeli occupation, domination and subjugation'. Kevin Hollinrake, chairman of the Conservative Party, said yesterday the Greens are 'once again showing how far removed from reality they are by pushing a motion that brands Zionism – the belief in Israel's right to exist – as racism.' He added: 'This is a dangerous antisemitic trope that risks inflaming division. 'Time and again, the Green Party has shown it is not serious about tackling the vile antisemitism and division within its own ranks.' And a spokesperson for Campaign Against Antisemitism warned the motion would 'open the door to a frightening witch-hunt against Jews'. They said: 'We have seen such things before in bygone eras and would have hoped that they had been consigned to the dustbin of history – as we had hoped about this motion after it was scuppered at the Green's spring conference. 'The prospect of it returning shows that the Party is failing to combat the haters in its membership.' The motion returns despite one member reporting the Greens to counter-terror police after it was first presented, claiming Zack Polanski's party was 'failing to protect its members'. A spokesperson for the Green Party said: 'Conference is still months away and although members have started to submit motions not everything submitted ends up being discussed. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.