'Jewish community feel betrayed' by Green Party, says Rachel Cunliffe | BBC Politics Live

About this video

• Video Title: 'Jewish community feel betrayed' by Green Party, says Rachel Cunliffe | BBC Politics Live
• Channel: BBC Politics
• Speakers: Rachel Cunliffe, Ash Sarkar, Baroness Chakrabarti, Lord Hannan, Zack Polanski
• Duration: 00:14:31

Overview

This video discusses a controversial motion passed by the Green Party that equates Zionism with racism. Rachel Cunliffe expresses that the wider Jewish community feels betrayed and unwelcome by the Green Party's stance. Ash Sarkar defends the motion, arguing it's about Palestinian liberation and questioning the ideology behind what she describes as a continuous genocide. The discussion also touches upon the definition of Zionism, historical context, and the impact of such motions on the Jewish community and political discourse.

Key takeaways

• Green Party Motion Controversy: A motion passed by the Green Party equating Zionism with racism has caused significant debate, leading to accusations that the party is making Jewish people feel unwelcome.
• Jewish Community's Reaction: Rachel Cunliffe, identifying as Jewish, stated that the broader Jewish community feels "betrayed and unwelcomed" by the Green Party's stance, viewing the motion as a message that they are not accepted unless they reject a core part of their identity.
• Defense of the Motion: Ash Sarkar argued that the motion is about Palestinian liberation and that questioning the ideology behind what she calls a "genocide" is a healthy political act. She cited research suggesting majority support within the Green Party for the motion.
• Distinction between Zionism and Judaism: The debate highlighted the tension between differentiating between Judaism as a religion and Zionism as a political ideology, with some arguing that conflating the two is antisemitic.
• Concerns about "Entryism": There were discussions about whether the motion and its passage were a result of "entryism" within the Green Party, with some suggesting an organized effort to influence the party's stance.