Israel Bars UK Green Party Leader Over Anti-Zionist Resolution

Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has decided to ban Zac Polonsky, the chairman of the UK's Green Party, from entering the country. The decision follows a party resolution that equates Zionism with racism and does not recognize Israel's continued existence as a separate state. Polonsky himself abstained from the vote on the resolution.

The Foreign Ministry stated that this is a "first step" and that the entry ban for Polonsky has been coordinated with relevant authorities. The move comes after the Green Party approved a proposal at a recent conference that defines Zionism as "racism" and calls for the establishment of a single Palestinian state with "equal rights for all," including Jews. The approved proposal makes no mention of the continued existence of Israel and does not present the two-state solution as a future option.

The proposal was submitted by a group called "Greens for Palestine." It was supported by 56% of the 1,835 participants in the vote, with 44% opposing it. Polonsky, the party's Jewish leader, abstained, while his Muslim deputy supported the proposal. The approved text describes Zionism as "a political ideology that calls for the establishment of a Jewish state based on ethnic nationalism, while excluding the non-Jewish population within it."

The Foreign Ministry strongly condemned the decision, asserting that it legitimizes armed struggle against Israel and calls for a "from the river to the sea" Palestinian state, which the ministry claims means the elimination of Israel. "The decision constitutes a clear antisemitic text according to the IHRA definition, as it denies the right of the Jewish people to self-determination," the ministry said.

Earlier, the Foreign Ministry had attacked the Green Party, claiming it had "ceased to function as a political party and has become a body supporting terror." The ministry added, "The Greens have officially adopted the Hamas green color and its ideological doctrine that calls for the elimination of the State of Israel through armed struggle." The Foreign Ministry also urged British political parties, particularly the Labour Party, to disavow the resolution.