Greenwich councillors reject Green Party's 'Zionism is racism' stance

Greenwich councillors have unanimously rejected the Green Party's national stance that 'Zionism is racism'. The cross-party motion, supported by Labour, Conservative, and Green councillors, was approved at a full council meeting on Wednesday. This decision followed emotional accounts from members of the borough's Jewish community detailing experiences of antisemitism.

Michelle Brooks-Evans, chair of Bromley Reform Synagogue, spoke at the meeting about the erosion of safety and belonging for Jewish residents. She described incidents including swastikas drawn on her daughter's schoolbooks and her son being subjected to antisemitic abuse. A sign stating 'I live in Greenwich. I am Jewish. I believe Zionism is racism' was displayed in the public gallery during her speech and subsequently confiscated by council officers.

Rabbi Ephraim Carlebach of Greenwich & Docklands Chabad urged the community to oppose hatred in all forms. Cllr Matt Hartley, former Conservative leader, criticised the 'intimidating' actions of some individuals in the public gallery, including the filming of speakers and the confiscated banner.

Legal action and national policy

Lubna Speitan, a Green Party member and Greenwich resident who proposed the national 'Zionism is racism' motion, which was approved by Green Party members in October 2026, addressed the council. She stated that the council's motion would not alter the view that 'Zionism is racist' or the democratic approval of the policy by the Green Party. Ms Speitan is also involved in legal action against Greenwich Council concerning its investments in companies with interests in Israel.

Ms Speitan criticised the council's motion as 'misleading, false and divisive', and argued that the Greenwich Multi-Faith Forum had excluded 'anti-Zionist Jews, Muslims and many other faith groups'. She also stated that conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism is antisemitic and described Israel as a 'racist apartheid settler colony committing genocide'.

Council leader Anthony Okereke stated that the Green Party's motion had caused 'worry and concern' in Greenwich. He affirmed that the council's new motion 'commits us to working and tackling all types of hatred in our communities'.

Tamasin Rhymes, the Green opposition leader, confirmed her group's support for the motion, citing the Green Party's commitment to the Equality and Equity Charter and the need to uphold the Equality Act 2010. She also referenced civilian deaths in Gaza.

Following the meeting, Ms Speitan was escorted from the chamber by security after calling for consideration of Palestinians in the borough and shouting 'Free Palestine'.