"You are the problem": Leader of the Jewish party in the UK accused the community of antisemitism

Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party in the UK, sparked a storm at an election conference of the Board of Deputies of British Jews when he said that Zionism is racism and that Jews brought antisemitism upon themselves. In response, someone from the crowd shouted at him: "You are the problem." Polanski faces repeated accusations of antisemitism within his party, including the arrest of candidates on suspicion of incitement.

Zack Polanski, leader of the Green Party in the UK, sparked a storm at an election conference organized by the Board of Deputies of British Jews. At the conference, Polanski accused the Jewish community of antisemitism and said that in his view, Zionism is racism: "If you define Zionism as the displacement and genocide of the Palestinians, which is what Zionism has become in practice, then that is racism." In response, cries were heard from the audience: "Where will the Jews go?", and one attendee shouted at him: "You are the problem." Since his appointment as party leader last year, Polanski has faced repeated accusations regarding antisemitism within his party. Last April, two Green Party candidates in local elections were arrested on suspicion of incitement to racism after posting antisemitic comments online. A Telegraph investigation revealed that nearly 20 party candidates had posted offensive content, with one calling Jews "cockroaches." Other candidates expressed support for "Palestine Action," a group outlawed in the UK. At the start of his tenure, Polanski saw a surge in membership, and the party overtook Labour in some polls, but now the string of scandals is taking its toll. According to a YouGov poll, the Green Party is expected to win only nine seats in the House of Commons and has fallen to fifth place, far behind the Liberal Democrats.