Polanski sparks fury at Holborn by-election hustings as he tells Jews that 'in practice' Zionism is racism

See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source Published: 06:12 EDT, 25 September 2026 | Updated: 06:45 EDT, 25 September 2026 Zack Polanski was booed last night as he told British Jews that 'in practice' Zionism is racism and Israel's actions in Gaza amounted to a genocide.The Green leader, who is Jewish, said he was an 'anti-Zionist' at a hustings for candidates in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, which takes place in less than two weeks. Mr Polanski told the event in London that those who described criticism of the brutal Israeli invasion of Gaza following the October 7 terror attacks as anti-Semitic were making Jews less safe.It comes as he faces an attempt by Green hardliners to change party policy to back the destruction of Israel and the creation of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capital.At the hustings, organised by the London Jewish Forum and the Board of Deputies of British Jews, Mr Polanski was heckled as he said that Zionism 'relies on the displacement and genocide of the Palestinian people'.Asked if he thought Zionism was a form of racism, as others in his party believe, he said: 'I think there's a problem with definitions. It means different things to different people.'If you're defining Zionism as a displacement genocide, which is how, in practice, Zionism has become, then that is racism.' The Green leader, who is Jewish, said he was an 'anti-Zionist' at a hustings for candidates in the Holborn and St Pancras by-election, which takes place in less than two weeks It comes as he faces an attempt by Green hardliners to change party policy to back the destruction of Israel and the creation of a Palestinian state with Jerusalem as its capitalHowever, the audience applauded Tory candidate Ewan Cameron for saying the UK did not take anti-Semitism seriously and 'an over-focus on events in Israel, as if that's the only thing that matters in the world'.According to Jewish News, Mr Cameron was also backed when he said: 'We need to be accountable for the words we use. I just heard Mr Polanski referring to apartheid and genocide.'These are explosive words. People then take those words and interpret them as statements of fact.'This polarisation of one side as good and one side as bad is unhelpful. If you genuinely want to discuss international affairs, you must explain the context –regarding Hamas, the complexities in Palestine, the history of Gaza, the realities of democracy, and the situation in Israel after the October 7 attacks.'Unless you provide context, these sound bites can perpetuate anti-Semitic behaviour and reactions.'Mr Polanski is facing a fresh attempt by hardline pro-Palestinian elements in his party to pass a motion at conference next week called 'Zionism is Racism', which advocates for 'a single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine with Jerusalem as its capital'.Penned by a London-based artist who says Hamas should not be deemed a terrorist organisation, it also calls for Israel to be treated like apartheid-era South Africa.It wants broad boycotts and sanctions, claiming: 'Zionism has created and seeks to maintain – and where possible – expand, an apartheid regime between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea.'In a pamphlet accompanying the motion, author Lubna Speitan called for 'an end to this racism and the monstrous State that has been built upon it', signing off by saying: 'Free Palestine, from the river to the sea,' a phrase that has been criticised as anti-Semitic.In an interview last week, Mr Polanski suggested he would not back the plan in its current form, branding it a 'distraction' that is 'not going to help'.