Zack Polanski Vows to Remain Green Party Leader Despite Internal Pressure Over Zionism Row

According to BBC UK, Zack Polanski has declared his intention to continue as the Green Party leader subsequent to his by-election defeat, despite receiving calls for his resignation from within his own party.

Vivien Lichtenstein, who leads the Jewish Greens, asserted on Friday that Polanski ought to resign, further stating that it constituted a significant error for him to have avoided a discussion concerning a party conference motion that characterized Zionism as a form of racism.

Lichtenstein's remarks followed accusations from former Green Party leader Caroline Lucas, who contended that Polanski had failed to demonstrate leadership concerning the controversy surrounding Zionism.

Polanski, who finished second to the Labour candidate Sagal Abdi-Wali in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election held on Thursday in London, secured 33% of the vote compared to Abdi-Wali's 45%. However, the Green vote share increased by 22% compared to the 2024 general election.

In interviews conducted on Friday, Polanski confirmed that he would not have supported the "imperfect" motion unless it underwent amendments.

Regarding Israel's right to exist, Polanski stated that the displacement and genocide of the Palestinian people are clearly rooted in a racist ideology. When asked by presenter Nick Robinson on BBC Radio 4's Today programme whether he believed Israel possessed a right to exist, he responded that he does not believe any state should have the right to commit genocide or oppression or apartheid against another people, adding that he does not believe such a state should be supported.

Lichtenstein, speaking to Times Radio, mentioned that she was unsure which Jewish members of the party Polanski had been collaborating with, noting that it had certainly not been with the Jewish Greens committee.

Her criticisms mirrored those of Caroline Lucas, who felt Polanski should have attended the vote on the conference motion on Sunday. The motion, which was adopted as official party policy by rank-and-file members, defined Zionism as an ideology supporting an "ethnonationalist Jewish state" and advocated for a "single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine," which encompasses modern-day Israel. Lucas described the motion as being "dangerous" and "flawed from top to bottom."

When questioned by BBC Newsnight about stepping down, Lucas indicated that she felt it was best to observe developments in the coming days and weeks, acknowledging that Polanski had been preoccupied with the by-election. She later softened her critique on X, suggesting that Polanski's leadership had "transformed the party" and expressing hope that he would now assist in resolving major issues and transforming internal structures.

Polanski had not addressed questions about the Zionism vote for most of the week, but on Friday, he confirmed in interviews that he would not have voted for the "imperfect" motion without amendments. He also stated that the displacement and genocide of the Palestinian people are clearly underpinned by a racist ideology. This statement comes amid several UN reports accusing the Israeli government of war crimes amounting to genocide in Gaza, allegations which Israel has consistently denied.

On Friday morning, Polanski was repeatedly asked on BBC Radio 4's Today programme if he believed Israel had a right to exist. He responded that he does not believe any state should have the right to oppress or commit genocide or apartheid on another people, and that he does not believe such a state should be supported. When pressed for a yes/no answer, he reiterated his desire to see equal rights for Israelis and Palestinians, noting that Palestinians currently lack equal rights, which he felt answered the question clearly.

Some long-standing Green figures have expressed frustration privately, accusing Polanski of being absent regarding the motion. They suggest this creates an untenable situation where he leads a party whose Middle East policy he disagrees with. One critic noted that he risks losing the confidence of both wings, pointing out that some supporters of the motion have become irritated by Polanski's refusal to publicly endorse them.

Despite facing pressure, Polanski may be shielded from a leadership challenge in the near future due to his popularity among the grassroots. Jonathan Bartley, the Green co-leader from 2016 to 2021, urged Polanski to apologize and step down, though he did not demand it. Bartley told BBC Radio 4's World at One that the vote represented a failure of leadership from Zack and that there was a certain toxicity within the Green Party, adding that the Green brand needed to be "detoxified." Bartley also mentioned that the party had seen an increase in members potentially coming from the left of the Labour Party or Jeremy Corbyn's Your Party, while simultaneously losing some older voters.

Polanski has faced days of scrutiny over the Zionism motion. Four of the five Green MPs and one of the party's two deputy leaders opposed it. The Green deputy in Wales and some councillors resigned, and some local members and the European Green Party have distanced themselves from the issue. Prime Minister Andy Burnham has called on Polanski to reverse the motion, which he described as "completely wrong."

Furthermore, Labour chair Bridget Phillipson, speaking to BBC Breakfast, drew parallels to her party's prior antisemitism scandal, suggesting that the Greens now face a "serious problem" with antisemitism. Polanski has stated that anti-Zionism and antisemitism are separate issues and affirmed that no one would be excluded from the party based on their faith, place of worship, or religious body.