Although a vote on the motion had been expected early in Saturday\u2019s proceedings, following a successful push by its backers to fast-track the process, it was repeatedly delayed by several no-confidence motions against the party chair, each of which required a separate debate, The Telegraph<\/a> reported.<\/p>\n \t A lengthy fight over the policy itself led to additional delays, after opponents of the measure tried unsuccessfully to rule it as out of order, the newspaper said, by arguing that it contradicted the Green Party\u2019s existing policy, which calls for a two-state solution.<\/p>\n Delays were then further compounded by technical malfunctions, the newspaper said, as the Zoom platform hosting the conference was unable to cope with the volume of participants and crashed repeatedly, further pushing off the vote.<\/p>\n Ultimately, despite the conference being extended by an additional 15 minutes, the clock ran out before the \u201cZionism is Racism\u201d motion could be put to a vote.<\/p>\n The motion will not be taken off the table altogether, though, and will be voted on at a later date.<\/p>\n The motion has been the subject of discourse within the party, with Polanski himself seemingly hesitant to endorse it.<\/p>\n Speaking to Times Radio last month, Polanski suggested he would endorse the motion only if it was linked to the actions of the current Israeli government and the actions taken by Israel in Gaza over the course of its two-year war with Hamas, sparked by the terror group\u2019s attack on Israel on October 7, 2023.<\/p>\n \u201cI can give you some different definitions of Zionism, and we can talk about whether they\u2019re racist or not,\u201d he said at the time. \u201cIf we\u2019re talking about the definition that this Israeli government is clearly perpetrating through a genocide in Gaza, then yes, absolutely. That\u2019s racist.\u201d<\/p>\n He told the radio station that he had not yet made up his mind as to how he would vote on the motion, saying he would \u201cwait to hear the debate\u201d before deciding.<\/p>\n He stated, however, that if the party\u2019s agreed-upon definition of Zionism was \u201cwhat is happening right now by the Israeli government,\u201d he would vote in favor.<\/p>\n \t According to sources quoted<\/a> by Jewish News, Polanski and other party officials had hoped the motion and the debate around Israel and Palestine would not dominate the party\u2019s agenda at the conference, worrying it could harm the Green Party\u2019s chances at local elections later this year.<\/p>\n The Greens\u2019 environmentalist and hard-left platform includes a number of anti-Israel policies, including supporting a complete arms embargo on Israel, an end to intelligence sharing with Jerusalem and a lifting of the government ban on the Palestine Action group, which was proscribed after members stormed a military base. That ban was recently struck down in court,<\/a> although an appeal has been filed.<\/p>\n At its annual conference last September, the Greens reaffirmed their support for the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, passed a motion branding Israel an \u201capartheid state\u201d and accused it of perpetrating a \u201cgenocide\u201d in Gaza \u2014 a charge Israel firmly denies.<\/p>\n Polanski has also accused Israel of genocide in Gaza, called for the arrest of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces a warrant from the International Criminal Court, and condemned Israel\u2019s \u201chorrendous and illegal\u201d airstrikes on Iran\u2019s nuclear sites and ballistic missile program during the June 2025 war.<\/p>\n Polanski grew up in a home he described as \u201cvery Zionist,\u201d but has said that Israel has since \u201cchanged,\u201d and that he is now \u201ccertainly not a Zionist.\u201d<\/p>\n On Friday, The Telegraph reported that messages sent in a Green Party activists group on WhatsApp had described Jewish people as \u201can abomination to this planet,\u201d and suggested that a recent arson attack<\/a> targeting ambulances owned by a Jewish organization had been a \u201cfalse flag\u201d operation.<\/p>\n According to the news outlet, the second day of the Green Party spring conference on Sunday will include a session on antisemitism.<\/p>\n \t![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26057570586108-640x400.jpg\")
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\n\t\tGreen Party supporters in Levenshulme in northwest England, February 26, 2026, as voters head to the polls in the Gorton and Denton constituency. (AP Photo\/Jon Super)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/AP26058279965549-640x400.jpg\")
\n\t\tThe Green Party\u2019s Hannah Spencer, right, celebrates with party leader Zack Polanski at a volunteer event after winning the Gorton and Denton by-election, Manchester, England, February 27, 2026. (AP\/Jon Super)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/green-protest-640x400.jpg\")
\n\t\tProtesters holding placards and waving flags as they take part in a march against the far right, organized by the Together Alliance, in central London on March 28, 2026. (Henry Nicholls\/AFP)<\/p>\n