UK Green Party vote calls for Israel to be ‘wiped out’, Israeli analyst says
Al Jazeera English
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Video Summary
The UK Green Party has officially declared Zionism a form of racism, a stance that has ignited fierce international debate. At their annual conference, the party also resolved to advocate for a single democratic Palestinian state and to halt all UK arms sales to Israel. In response, Israel has labeled the policy anti-Semitic and banned Green Party leader Zak Polanski from entering the country.
Mitchell Barak, a former aide to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, vehemently rejected the Green Party's resolution, arguing it equates to calling for Israel's annihilation and constitutes anti-Semitism under the widely adopted IHRA definition. He dismissed claims that this policy reflects a broader, legitimate debate about Zionism, asserting it is unequivocally anti-Semitic. Barak also challenged statistics suggesting a declining international image for Israel, arguing that such views would be far more extreme if Israel ceased to exist, and emphasized Israel's focus on survival amidst regional conflicts rather than public opinion.
Short Highlights
- The UK Green Party voted to define Zionism as a form of racism.
- The party also supports a single democratic Palestinian state and ending UK arms sales to Israel.
- Israel condemned the policy as anti-Semitic and banned Green Party leader Zak Polanski from entering the country.
- Mitchell Barak argues the resolution calls for Israel's destruction and is anti-Semitic under the IHRA definition.
- Barak disputes claims of an international image crisis for Israel, emphasizing survival over public opinion.
- The upcoming Israeli election focuses on security and survival, not foreign policy or public opinion.
Key Details
Green Party Adopts Controversial Stance [0:00]
- The UK Green Party voted at its annual conference to define Zionism as a form of racism.
- The motion also calls for the establishment of a single democratic Palestinian state.
- Furthermore, the party resolved for the UK to cease all arms sales to Israel.
"The UK Green Party has voted to define Zionism as a form of racism."
Israel's Strong Reaction [0:21]
- Israel has strongly condemned the Green Party's policy, labeling it anti-Semitic.
- The Israeli foreign ministry has banned the party's leader, Zak Polanski, from entering Israel.
"Israel has condemned the policy as anti-Semitic."
Defining Anti-Semitism and Criticism [0:44]
- Mitchell Barak, a former aide to Benjamin Netanyahu, argues the Green Party's resolution is a violation of the IHRA definition of anti-Semitism.
- He asserts that calling for a Palestinian state from the river to the sea implies Israel should cease to exist, which he views as anti-Semitic.
- Barak questions whether such a stance constitutes legitimate criticism of Israel.
"So you're telling me if a party in a country adopts a resolution that says your country should cease to exist, that's criticism of Israel?"
International Image and Public Opinion [2:07]
- Barak dismisses statistics showing unfavorable views of Israel, suggesting unfavorable views would be 95% if Israel ceased to exist.
- He argues that Israel is focused on survival amidst existential threats, not on winning a popularity contest.
- The upcoming Israeli election is framed as a choice for a party that will protect Israel and the Jewish people, with survival being the ultimate stake.
"At the end of the day, everything the government of Israel does in all the regions that we're against... that calls for the annihilation of Israel, that's fine."
