Labour threatens to end local coalitions with Greens over Zionism policy
British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) reports that Labour has set a deadline for local Green Party groups to disown their newly adopted policy, which characterises Zionism as a form of racism. Failure to do so will lead to the end of power-sharing agreements between the two parties in 19 councils.
Labour's ultimatum follows the Green Party's conference decision, where members approved a motion stating that Zionism, the ideology supporting an "ethnonationalist Jewish state", has resulted in the "disenfranchisement and destruction" of Palestinians. The motion also backs the creation of a "single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine".
This has sparked a backlash from Jewish groups and criticism from Green figures, including four of their five MPs. Green leader Zack Polanski has called for amendments to the "imperfect" motion but acknowledged the "racist ideology" underpinning it.
Currently, Labour shares power with the Greens in Sheffield, Lewes, and Warwick. The party has now asked all local Labour groups to write to their Green counterparts, demanding a clear rejection of the policy. If not, Labour will terminate these local arrangements.