Zionism Is Not Racism: Israeli Representative Tears Up UK Green Party Resolution

Matan Bar Noy, head of the World Zionist Organization's delegation to Britain and Europe, tore up a resolution passed by the UK Green Party that defined Zionism as racism. Bar Noy performed the act in front of the British Parliament and Big Ben on Sunday, stating, "This resolution I tear up and throw where it belongs." He drew inspiration from former Israeli Ambassador to the UN Chaim Herzog, who in 1975 tore up UN Resolution 3379, which equated Zionism with racism. That UN resolution was repealed in 1991.

"Zionism is the national liberation movement of the Jewish people and the expression of their right to self-determination in their historic homeland," Bar Noy declared. He added that while the UN rescinded its discriminatory resolution years ago, some are attempting to reintroduce the same libel through the back door. Bar Noy emphasized that in the heart of British democracy, the message is clear: "We will not accept an attempt to equate the very right of the Jewish people to self-determination with racism." He concluded by casting the Green Party's resolution into the "dustbin of history."

Bar Noy highlighted the resolution's severity in light of rising antisemitism in Britain and a hostile atmosphere towards Israel and the Jewish community. He argued that political parties should combat hatred rather than legitimize it by delegitimizing Zionism. While criticism of the Israeli government is legitimate, denying the Jewish people's right to self-determination is fundamentally different, he stated.

The Green Party resolution, approved at the party's conference, defines Zionism as "racism" and calls for a single Palestinian state with "equal rights for all," without mentioning the continued existence of Israel or a two-state solution. The proposal was submitted by the "Greens for Palestine" group and passed with 56% of the vote among 1,835 participants, out of over 200,000 party members. The party leader abstained from the vote.