Portrait of Zack Polanski
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Zack Polanski on Israel

Anti-Zionist proponent (strong) Position evolved

TL;DR

Zack Polanski has shifted from a previous moderate stance to strongly advocate for explicitly anti-Zionist policies against Israel.

Key Points

  • He stated in February 2026 that he generally does not believe any state, including Israel, has an inherent right to exist, asserting only people have that right.

  • His party has called for the UK to withdraw from the Eurovision Song Contest if Israel is allowed to participate, a move associated with his leadership.

  • As a founder of the Jewish Greens, he previously advocated in 2020 for the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, a position he appears to have since reversed.

Summary

Zack Polanski, the Green Party leader, has taken a strongly anti-Zionist stance on Israel, advocating for policies that call for the destruction of the Jewish state, such as supporting a motion to define Israel as an apartheid state committing genocide and favouring a single Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine. This position represents a marked departure from his earlier views, as recently as 2018, when he criticized his party for an obsession with Israel and supported the adoption of the IHRA definition of antisemitism, which explicitly supports Israel's right to exist. His current stance also includes calling for the British government to arrest the Israeli president during a visit and for a boycott of all Israeli sports teams.

This evolution has drawn criticism, especially given that some of his immediate family members hold openly pro-Israel views, leading to accusations of equivocating on whether Zionism is racism. He has stated that he generally does not believe any state has a right to exist, only people, and asserts that the final decision on self-sovereignty must rest with the Palestinian and Israeli people. Furthermore, he has expressed solidarity with the Palestinian people regarding the conflict in Gaza while insisting it is possible to speak out against antisemitism simultaneously.

Frequently Asked Questions

Zack Polanski currently holds a strongly anti-Zionist position, supporting motions within his party that characterize Israel as an apartheid state and call for its dismantling. He has explicitly stated he does not believe any state has a right to exist.

Yes, his position has significantly evolved; he previously criticized his party for an excessive focus on Israel and advocated for the IHRA definition of antisemitism. More recently, he has moved toward an explicitly anti-Zionist stance.

The politician stated that he generally does not believe any state has a right to exist, only that people possess that right, meaning both Israelis and Palestinians have a right to exist. He believes the final determination of sovereignty should be made by the people involved.