Oct 05, 2026

Jewish News Today: Green Party "Zionism Is Racism" Motion Shocks British Jewish Community as October 7 Third Anniversary Marked

Britain's Green Party has formally adopted a policy equating Zionism with racism, triggering immediate condemnation from the Israeli government, the Chief Rabbi, and prominent figures within the party itself — all as the Jewish world paused to mark the third anniversary of the October 7 Hamas massacre. The collision of these two stories has made this one of the most charged days for diaspora Jewish communities in recent memory.

Green Party Votes to Define Zionism as Racism

The Green Party of England and Wales passed the motion at its members' assembly over the weekend, according to the Forward, the Jewish Chronicle, and the Jüdische Allgemeine. The party is led by Zack Polanski. The Jüdische Allgemeine quoted critics describing the Greens as "now an extremist party," while the Jewish Chronicle published opinion pieces arguing that "Zionism isn't racism — the Green Party is" and warning that the motion's real target is not Israel but British Jews.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry, led by Gideon Sa'ar, responded by barring Polanski from entering Israel, according to the Jewish Chronicle. Sa'ar described the motion as an "antisemitic text" that "denies the Jewish people's right to self-determination." Israel's Foreign Ministry also told JNS that the policy goes "far beyond the boundaries of legitimate political debate."

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis condemned the motion in the strongest terms, telling the Jewish Chronicle it represented "poisonous antisemitism" and calling it "a threat to British Jews and to Britain."

The fallout within the party was immediate. Sandy Ruthven, chair of Amnesty International UK's board, resigned from the Green Party over what she called the "antisemitic motion," telling the Jewish Chronicle that by courting the hard left, Polanski's party is "failing to confront prejudice." The Jüdische Allgemeine reported that the motion has prompted broader questions about whether the Greens can any longer be considered a legitimate home for Jewish environmentalists or civil society figures.

The Jewish Chronicle published an editorial calling on voters in Holborn — where Polanski is reportedly seeking a parliamentary seat — to vote for any other candidate, arguing it would be a "terrible irony" if a constituency associated with Keir Starmer's anti-antisemitism efforts were to fall to a party now "increasingly toxic for Jews."

Cable Street Rally and the Wider Picture of UK Antisemitism

The Green Party vote did not occur in isolation. The Jewish Chronicle reported that a rally at Cable Street — linked to the 90th anniversary of the Battle of Cable Street — was used to target Jews, with the Jewish Chronicle describing the event as part of a broader pattern: "After Corbynism, hate marches, rising antisemitic crime, Heaton Park, sectarian voting and the demonisation of Israel, yesterday was less an aberration than a warning of how far our politics has already travelled."

Failed Asylum Seeker Jailed for Life Over Israeli Embassy Knife Attack

In a separate development directly relevant to Jewish community security in the UK, the Jewish Chronicle reported that Abdullah Albadri — a failed asylum seeker — has been jailed for life after attempting to break into the Israeli Embassy in Kensington in April 2025 with a knife. He was tackled by armed police at the scene. The sentencing closes a case that alarmed British Jewish communal security bodies when it occurred.

October 7 Third Anniversary: Commemorations and Reflections

Israel marked the third anniversary of the October 7 attacks with a national memorial day. According to JNS, the country lowered its flags to half-staff at 6:29 a.m. to open commemorations honouring fallen soldiers and victims of the 2023 assault. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu addressed a state memorial ceremony at Mount Herzl, where, according to JNS, he honoured fallen soldiers, hailed what he described as triumphs over Iranian-backed enemies, and pledged "ultimate victory." Netanyahu told the ceremony that while October 7 is "seared into us," three years on Israel is "stronger than ever," and vowed there will be no Hamas rule in the Gaza Strip.

US Ambassador Mike Huckabee said Washington stands "shoulder-to-shoulder" with Israel against "terrorist enemies that seek to destroy us," according to the Jewish Chronicle.

Former hostages also spoke publicly. The Jewish Chronicle reported that British-Israeli hostage Emily Damari said: "Thank you to the dear people of Israel, [who] did not stop fighting for us," adding: "I choose life."

October 7's Impact on Jews in Germany: A Biographical Turning Point

A new study reported by the Jüdische Allgemeine found that Jews in Germany overwhelmingly perceive the Hamas attack of October 7, 2023 as both a historical and a personal biographical rupture. Study participants described experiencing what the Jüdische Allgemeine characterised as a "new antisemitic normality" in German society since the attack. The findings add empirical weight to what many in the German Jewish community have described anecdotally since 2023.

The Jüdische Allgemeine also reported that the state government of Hesse is pushing for criminal penalties for statements that deny Israel's right to exist, with officials quoted as saying: "Anyone who denies Israel's right to exist should face consequences." Separately, Josef Schuster, president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany (Zentralrat), called on the party Die Linke to expel members found guilty of antisemitism, particularly sitting parliamentarians who use their platforms to spread antisemitic content.

Death of Holocaust Survivor Irene Butter

The Jüdische Allgemeine reported the death of Holocaust survivor and peace activist Irene Butter, a Berlin-born woman who died in the United States at the age of 95. Germany's Minister of State for Culture, Wolfram Weimer, paid tribute to her life and work. No further details about the circumstances of her death were provided in the source material.

British Jews' Attachment to Israel Has Grown Since October 7

A new report covered by the Jewish Chronicle found that British Jews have become more emotionally attached to Israel since October 7. However, the same study cautioned against overstating the effect, explicitly discounting the idea of a "surge" in Jewish community involvement over the past three years. The findings suggest a deepening of existing bonds rather than a mass mobilisation.

Jewish Volunteering Network Honoured at London Dangoor Awards

On a more celebratory note, the Jewish Chronicle reported that the Jewish Volunteering Network received an anniversary prize at the London Dangoor Awards, recognising a decade of service to the Jewish community and beyond.

What This Means for Diaspora Jewish Communities

This is a day of unusual weight for Jews in Britain, Germany, and beyond. In the UK, the Green Party's formal adoption of the "Zionism is racism" formulation — condemned by the Chief Rabbi, the Israeli government, and figures from across civil society — represents a new political landmark. As the Jewish Chronicle noted, this is not simply a policy disagreement but a motion that, in the view of its critics, targets the identity and belonging of the overwhelming majority of British Jews who hold some connection to Zionism. That this occurred on the eve of the October 7 anniversary amplifies its resonance.

For Jews in Germany, the new study's findings will ring true to many who have spoken of October 7 as a before-and-after moment in their sense of safety and belonging. The push by Hesse for legal penalties over denial of Israel's right to exist, and the Zentralrat's pressure on Die Linke, show that German Jewish institutions are moving from documenting antisemitism to demanding structural consequences.

The life sentencing of the man who attacked the Israeli Embassy in London is a reminder that the security threats facing Jewish institutions in Britain are real and ongoing — and that vigilance by armed authorities has, in at least one case, prevented tragedy.