Polanski Tells Jews That “in Practice Zionism is Racism”

Green Party Leader Zack Polanski was booed last night at a Holborn by-election hustings as he told British Jews that “in practice” Zionism is racism and Israel’s actions in Gaza amount to a “genocide”. The Mail has more.

The Green leader, who is Jewish, said he was an “anti-Zionist” at a hustings for candidates in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, which takes place in less than two weeks. 

Polanski told the event in London that those who described criticism of the brutal Israeli invasion of Gaza following the October 7th terror attacks as antisemitic were making Jews less safe.

It comes as he faces an attempt by Green hardliners to change party policy to back the destruction of Israel and the creation of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.

At the hustings, organised by the London Jewish Forum and the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Polanski was heckled as he said that Zionism “relies on the displacement and genocide of the Palestinian people”.

Asked if he thought Zionism was a form of racism, as others in his party believe, he said: “I think there’s a problem with definitions. It means different things to different people.

“If you’re defining Zionism as a displacement genocide, which is how, in practice, Zionism has become, then that is racism.”

However, the audience applauded Reform UK candidate Peter Newman for saying the UK did not take antisemitism seriously and [there is] “an over-focus on events in Israel, as if that’s the only thing that matters in the world”.

According to Jewish News, Tory Ewan Cameron was also backed when he said: “We need to be accountable for the words we use. I just heard Polanski referring to apartheid and genocide.

“These are explosive words. People then take those words and interpret them as statements of fact.

“This polarisation of one side as good and one side as bad is unhelpful. If you genuinely want to discuss international affairs, you must explain the context – regarding Hamas, the complexities in Palestine, the history of Gaza, the realities of democracy, and the situation in Israel after the October 7th attacks.

“Unless you provide context, these sound bites can perpetuate antisemitic behaviour and reactions.” …

Polanski was also criticised by Labour peer Baroness Hodge, who told Times Radio: “He doesn’t understand Zionism. I think probably he needs a quick lesson in Zionism.”

Worth reading in full.