Jewish Greens chair says she could leave party over 'Zionism is racism' motion

Key Points:

• Vivien Lichtenstein, chair of Jewish Greens, is considering leaving the Green Party after it adopted a motion declaring Zionism a form of racism, a position she opposes and believes is unhelpful to Palestinians.
• The Green Party voted 1,022 to 813 in favor of the motion at their conference, despite attempts by party leader Zack Polanski to amend it to protect Jewish members and remove language about a single democratic Palestinian state.
• The motion supports the establishment of a single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine, including the right of return for Palestinians, a stance criticized by Jewish organizations as antisemitic and misrepresenting Zionism.
• Lichtenstein highlighted divisions within Jewish Greens on the motion, noting some support, some opposition, and concerns that the policy could alienate both Jewish and non-Jewish members who work with pro-Palestinian groups.
• Party officials have stated they will protect Jewish members and not persecute those identifying as Zionist, while prominent Jewish groups and the Movement for Progressive Judaism have condemned the motion as antisemitic.