Green Party leader Zack Polanski urged politicians to address antisemitism with thoughtfulness, caution, and subtlety, while charging Prime Minister Keir Starmer with exploiting the topic for political gain. His statements followed Starmer’s claim that Polanski was minimizing recent antisemitic events. The Green Party is under growing examination due to statements from certain candidates and members. Some party insiders have shared worries with media outlets about an influx of new members with strong anti-Israel views that sometimes veer into antisemitism, compounded by the party’s decentralized structure making it hard to address. During a synagogue visit, Starmer described Polanski’s stance as shameful for differentiating between real dangers to the UK Jewish community after arson incidents and feelings of insecurity. Labour has also faulted Polanski for retracting his earlier criticism of Jeremy Corbyn’s handling of antisemitism during his time as Labour leader, suggesting the matter was exploited back then. While campaigning in Glasgow to support the Scottish Greens, Polanski—who heads the Greens in England and Wales—clarified: ‘Regarding exploitation, it’s crucial to recognize that antisemitism is real, and some statements are indeed antisemitic. However, I’ve noticed media reports labeling pro-Palestinian views as antisemitic when they are not. These are distinct.’ He continued: ‘False claims of antisemitism or conflating criticism of the Israeli government with antisemitism makes me, as a Jewish individual, feel less secure. It ties me to a nation unrelated to my Jewish heritage.’ Polanski criticized Starmer for trivializing a grave concern, stating: ‘All politicians, especially the prime minister, must handle antisemitism with the required sensitivity and detail.’ He noted the oddity of a non-Jewish prime minister critiquing the sole Jewish party leader on this issue. On allegations against Green candidates, Polanski called for balance, noting only a small number of cases among 4,500 local election contenders in England and Wales. He added: ‘Still, we’re seeing a concerning increase in antisemitism nationwide, alongside rises in Islamophobia and general hate crimes. Public figures, especially party leaders, must address this earnestly.’ Polanski’s remarks on Labour under Corbyn have led to charges of laxness toward antisemitism in the Greens. Membership has nearly quadrupled since his September leadership start. Many complaints relate to Gaza, with some candidates sharing views that seem to endorse the Hamas assault on Israel, challenge Israel’s existence, or invoke stereotypes about Israel’s or Jewish people’s global power. Party officials admit the decentralized setup hinders oversight of members’ statements. Local branches handle candidate screening, and there’s at least one instance of a suspended general election candidate reappearing for the May 7 polls. Policy proposals at conferences also lack central oversight, including a March submission declaring ‘Zionism is racism.’ A senior member highlighted that with 220,000 members, direct participation models are vulnerable to misuse. ‘Direct democracy doesn’t scale to 220,000,’ they said. ‘New joiners vary, but some are focused solely on anti-Israel advocacy.’ The party reports strengthening internal processes, especially on antisemitism. ‘Daily meetings address this; it’s not overlooked,’ an official stated. ‘Our rapid growth and record candidate numbers mean we’re adapting.’ The ‘Zionism is racism’ proposal was halted in March but will be discussed in the fall. On this, Polanski said: ‘Allowing members to vote on policy upholds key democratic values. I also’
