Bristol Greens leader opposes anti-Zionism vote

The leader of a Green Party-run city council has declared his opposition to a motion adopted by the national party declaring Zionism a form of racism.

On Sunday during the Green Party conference, members passed a motion which defined Zionism as an ideology supporting "an ethnonationalist Jewish state" .

Bristol City Council leader Tony Dyer said he feels "compelled to speak up on a personal level and on behalf of the council, to express my opposition". Cheltenham MP Max Wilkinson has also criticised the vote.

The motion has been condemned by some Jewish groups, who called it an "attack on the Jewish community", as well as several MPs.

It comes after Green Party leader Zack Polanski said he will not accept anyone being excluded from the Green Party "because of the religious or communal body they are part of".

In a statement, Dyer said the party's motion is "not council policy" and "does not represent my views or the views of Bristol City Council".

"I firmly believe that representing the council as its leader means speaking up when views differ, while continuing to work constructively together," he added.

"That conviction extends to the political party of which I am a member - and this is one such moment.

"As we have consistently stated, the council supports the right of both the Palestinian and Israeli people to self-determination and strongly advocates for a two-state solution and the peaceful coexistence of Palestinians and Israelis.

"I want to reiterate to all communities across our city that we share a responsibility to treat one another with respect, compassion and understanding."

The Green Party currently lead the minority council as the largest party, with committee chair positions shared among the party and Liberal Democrats.

The policy motion was put forward by a group of activists at the party's conference in Brighton and endorsed by 1,022 votes to 813.

It said: "The real, material, manifestation of Zionism has been the historic and ongoing dehumanisation, displacement, dispossession, disenfranchisement and destruction of Palestinians."

The party's website said the motion "restates the Green Party's backing for the right to self-determination and calls for the establishment of a single democratic state throughout historic Palestine".

Polanski did not take part in the vote on Sunday and four of the party's five MPs - including Bristol Central MP Carla Denyer - opposed it.

Liberal Democrat MP for Cheltenham Max Wilkinson said he has written to the Equality and Human Rights Commission asking whether the Green Party's new policy is a breach of the Equality Act 2010.

In the letter, he said: "There's been a shocking and worrying increase in reports of antisemitic incidents in recent times.

"Prejudice and discrimination based upon race, ethnicity, religion or belief cannot be tolerated, particularly in a mainstream political party.

"The Equality Act 2010 was created to ensure that everyone can lead their lives free from discrimination."

The motion has highlighted tensions between party members and activists and MPs, and has been condemned by Israel's foreign ministry.

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