The UK Green Party has voted to adopt an anti-Zionist position at its 2026 conference, prompting Israel to bar the party's leader, Zack Polanski, from entering the country. The motion was passed by 1,022 votes and it defines Zionism as an ethnonationalist political project and states that anti-Zionism should not be equated with antisemitism.&nbsp;A Green Party spokesperson said the decision followed a "serious and deeply felt debate" among its membership. “This has been a serious and deeply felt debate within our membership. Our members value the ability to bring forward and decide party policy, and conference has now made its decision,” the spokesperson said. The party said its position was rooted in its opposition to racism and its stated support for equality, justice and human rights. “The Green Party is an anti-racist party and has consistently opposed the illegal occupation of both Palestinian and Syrian land, called for an end to arms sales to the Israeli government and spoken out fearlessly about the devastating situation in Gaza and the West Bank. Those positions remain central to our approach. So too does our deeply held commitment to equality, justice and human rights for all and opposition to racism in all its forms,” the spokesperson added.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">Following the vote on the anti-Zionist policy at Green Party Conference, the 5 Green MPs, the Leader and Co-Deputy Leaders have issued a joint statement https://t.co/NcB2aljsTK&mdash; The Green Party (@TheGreenParty) <a href="https://x.com/TheGreenParty/status/2106802645600190722?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 4, 2026</a></blockquote>
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&nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/uk-s-zack-polanski-learning-from-zohran-mamdani-green-party-leader-s-urdu-campaign-video-goes-viral-1789450758095">UK's Zack Polanski learning from Zohran Mamdani? Green party leader's Urdu campaign video goes viral</a><h2>Israel reacts to Green Party policy</h2>Following the adoption of the policy, Israel's Foreign Ministry accused the Green Party of legitimising armed struggle against Israel. "Today, the Green Party in Britain adopted a resolution equating Zionism with racism, legitimising armed struggle against Israel, and calling for the establishment of a Palestinian state “from the river to the sea” - meaning the destruction of the State of Israel," the Israeli Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The ministry said it considered the resolution antisemitic under the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) definition and accused it of denying Jewish self-determination. Israel's Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar subsequently decided to bar Green Party leader Zack Polanski from entering Israel. &nbsp;Also Read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-elections-who-is-zack-polanski-former-hypnotherapist-and-openly-gay-leader-of-the-green-party-1778136638825">UK elections: Who is Zack Polanski, former hypnotherapist and openly gay leader of the Green Party?</a>&nbsp;Polanski has led the Green Party of England and Wales since September 2025 and has served as a member of the London Assembly since 2021. He previously served as the party's deputy leader from 2022 to 2025. The contest is being closely watched as a test for Labour. His campaign style draws similarity with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

The UK Green Party has formally adopted an anti-Zionist position at its 2026 conference, backing Palestinian liberation, BDS and a single democratic state in historic Palestine. Israel condemned the move and barred Green Party leader Zack Polanski from entering the country.

The UK Green Party has voted to adopt an anti-Zionist position at its 2026 conference, prompting Israel to bar the party's leader, Zack Polanski, from entering the country. The motion was passed by 1,022 votes and it defines Zionism as an ethnonationalist political project and states that anti-Zionism should not be equated with antisemitism. A Green Party spokesperson said the decision followed a "serious and deeply felt debate" among its membership. “This has been a serious and deeply felt debate within our membership. Our members value the ability to bring forward and decide party policy, and conference has now made its decision,” the spokesperson said. The party said its position was rooted in its opposition to racism and its stated support for equality, justice and human rights. “The Green Party is an anti-racist party and has consistently opposed the illegal occupation of both Palestinian and Syrian land, called for an end to arms sales to the Israeli government and spoken out fearlessly about the devastating situation in Gaza and the West Bank. Those positions remain central to our approach. So too does our deeply held commitment to equality, justice and human rights for all and opposition to racism in all its forms,” the spokesperson added.

The UK Green Party has formally adopted an anti-Zionist position at its 2026 conference, backing Palestinian liberation, BDS and a single democratic state in historic Palestine. Israel condemned the move and barred Green Party leader Zack Polanski from entering the country.

UK Green Party adopts anti-Zionist position, Zack Polanski barred from Israel: What's happening

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has gone viral after he released a campaign video in Urdu ahead of the October 8 by-election in Holborn and St Pancras. In the video, Polanski introduces himself in Urdu and urges voters to support the Green Party in the upcoming contest. He includes a message: “Vote for the Green Party on October 8.” Polanski previously utilised Bengali (Bangla) in political advertising. Polanski was confirmed as the Green Party candidate for the seat last week after former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer announced he would step down as the area's MP to focus on a role in international affairs.&nbsp;The by-election is set to take place on October 8. Polanski has led the Green Party of England and Wales since September 2025 and has served as a member of the London Assembly since 2021. He previously served as the party's deputy leader from 2022 to 2025. The contest is being closely watched as a test for Labour. His campaign style draws similarity with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-media-max-width="560">آٹھ اکتوبر کو گرین پارٹی کو ووٹ دیں <a href="https://t.co/xzqVkDpXLv">pic.twitter.com/xzqVkDpXLv</a>&mdash; Bold Politics (@_BoldPolitics) <a href="https://x.com/_BoldPolitics/status/2099476753899032866?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">September 14, 2026</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.x.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Polanski’s deployment of campaign videos and literature spoken entirely in Urdu and Bengali to directly target South Asian and Muslim communities in British by-elections heavily mirrors Mamdani’s established approach in New York. Both campaigns heavily rely on social mediaand storytelling instead of appearing staged. Both Polanski and Mamdani focus on making marginalised voters and for this have faced immense pushback from right-wing and centrist opponents who accuse them of playing "divisive identity politics" or fueling sectarian voting lines. Just as Mamdani has consistently disrupted establishment Democrats in New York by standing aggressively with working-class unions and tenants, Polanski has used these localised tactics to heavily fracture the traditional voter base of the UK Labour Party.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has gone viral after releasing an Urdu campaign video ahead of the October 8 Holborn and St Pancras by-election. Polanski urges voters to back the Greens and has previously used Bengali in political advertising, drawing comparisons with Zohran Mamdani.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has gone viral after he released a campaign video in Urdu ahead of the October 8 by-election in Holborn and St Pancras. In the video, Polanski introduces himself in Urdu and urges voters to support the Green Party in the upcoming contest. He includes a message: “Vote for the Green Party on October 8.” Polanski previously utilised Bengali (Bangla) in political advertising. Polanski was confirmed as the Green Party candidate for the seat last week after former prime minister Sir Keir Starmer announced he would step down as the area's MP to focus on a role in international affairs. The by-election is set to take place on October 8. Polanski has led the Green Party of England and Wales since September 2025 and has served as a member of the London Assembly since 2021. He previously served as the party's deputy leader from 2022 to 2025. The contest is being closely watched as a test for Labour. His campaign style draws similarity with New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has gone viral after releasing an Urdu campaign video ahead of the October 8 Holborn and St Pancras by-election. Polanski urges voters to back the Greens and has previously used Bengali in political advertising, drawing comparisons with Zohran Mamdani.

UK's Zack Polanski learning from Zohran Mamdani? Green party leader's Urdu campaign video goes viral

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UK Green Party adopts anti-Zionist position, Zack Polanski barred from Israel: What's happening

UK Green Party leader Zack Polanski goes viral with Urdu campaign video