UK Green Party Faces Internal Revolt Over Pro-Palestinian Stance

A fierce internal conflict is shaking the UK's Green Party, as pro-Palestinian activists attempt to oust former party leader Caroline Lucas. Lucas, a prominent environmental figure and former Member of Parliament, has become the target of an internal campaign after she criticized the party's decision to label Zionism as racism.

According to reports, members of the "Greens for Palestine" group are coordinating disciplinary complaints against Lucas, hoping to have her suspended or expelled. WhatsApp messages obtained by The Telegraph reveal activists calling her "toxic, a traitor, and a collaborator with apartheid and genocide." This clash highlights a broader struggle within the party between its moderate wing and activists aligned with the radical left and pro-Palestinian movement.

The controversy was ignited when the Green Party conference approved a motion declaring Zionism as racism, with 1,022 votes in favor and 813 against. This decision, which became official policy despite less than one percent of the party's membership voting for it, is seen as a call to dismantle Israel and define the Jewish people's right to self-determination as racist ideology. The Chief Rabbi of Britain, Ephraim Mirvis, condemned the motion as "toxic antisemitism," while the Israeli Foreign Ministry stated the Greens had become a "terrorist organization."

Lucas herself has been a strong critic of Israel, even accusing it of genocide in Gaza. However, pro-Palestinian activists now accuse her of collaborating with Israel due to her opposition to the party's resolution. She described the anti-Zionism decision as "dangerous," "divisive," and "fundamentally flawed," warning that it makes many Jewish members feel unsafe and unwelcome.

Adding another layer to the conflict, a report suggests that Lubna Speitan, a key activist behind the "Zionism is Racism" motion, was closely associated with an Al-Qaeda terrorist who allegedly planned to bomb a plane from Israel to London. Lucas called for Speitan's suspension pending an investigation, stating that while she doesn't know the truth of the claims, they are deeply concerning and require action.

The internal strife occurs as the Green Party experiences significant growth, with its membership nearly quadrupling in a year to around 230,000. However, this expansion is accompanied by accusations of antisemitism and a struggle for influence between long-time environmental activists and radical left-wing and Islamist activists, who moderate members claim are attempting to shape party policy from within.