Zack Polanski says Zionism, as applied, is racist

The stance

Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party in England and Wales, is standing ten toes down on his party's recent decision to label Zionism as racism. In a BBC interview this Sunday, Polanski didn't mince words, calling the application of Zionism a "racist ideology" and arguing that debating the terminology is lowkey a distraction from the human cost in Gaza.

"I think Zionism is racism in the practical application of it," Polanski stated, pointing to the high civilian death toll among Palestinians as the core of his reasoning. When pressed on the existence of Israel, he pushed a radical take: he doesn't believe any state has a "right to exist" under international law, and he considers the two-state solution to be "for the birds."

Leading through the drama

Polanski caught some heat for skipping the actual conference vote on the motion, with critics like Jewish Greens head Vivien Lichtenstein calling out a lack of leadership. She argued he should have been there to debate and vote, regardless of his schedule. Polanski isn't apologizing, though. He noted that the Jewish Greens group actually had a majority in support of the motion, and he stands by his decision to focus on bigger picture issues.

The fallout

It’s been a rough stretch for the party leader. After a hot start to his tenure—seeing the party climb to 18% in the polls—things have cooled off significantly. Between questions over his personal tax affairs, a beef with the police following the Golders Green attack, and this latest row, the vibes are off for the party's momentum. Still, Polanski claims he's not sweating it, predicting that voters will eventually come back around once they realize the Green Party was "right all along" regarding the current national leadership.

Why it matters

Polanski’s decision to plant his flag on these issues marks a deliberate pivot to the left. By leaning into polarizing, populist territory, he is testing whether his base cares more about core ideological purity or the stability required to challenge the status quo in the long term.