In October the Green Party passed a motion entitled “Zionism is Racism” which condemns people as racist for supporting Israel’s continued existence and rejects the prospect of a two-state solution to the conflict in the Middle East.
This affects Sheffield citizens in very real ways. Antisemitism, Islamophobia and other forms of racism are on the rise. Many Jewish Sheffielders are deeply fearful of the consequences of demonising all Zionists. Zionism takes many forms - including secular, socialist and anti-racist - and the majority of our Jewish residents are vehemently opposed to Israel’s actions in Gaza.
Many leading figures in the Green Party have spoken out against the motion including the majority of their MPs. The Green Party’s former leader has called on Green councillors to reject it. The leader of the Cornish Green Party and the Chair of Amnesty International have resigned from the Green Party over it.
But Sheffield Green Party refuses to distance itself from it. Three Sheffield Green councillors, including two committee chairs, have very publicly supported it including defending it further since the vote.
Sheffield Labour has been working to find a way to address the concerns of many of our citizens about the Green Party motion and to enable us to continue to work with Sheffield Green Party to lead the council. Sheffield Labour has been clear that to continue to support Sheffield Green Party to hold leadership roles on the council, the Greens need to clarify that not all Zionists are racists and that self-determination is the right of the peoples of Palestine and Israel.
The Greens have been unable to provide this assurance to the residents of the city, and therefore we are unable to continue the joint administration.
Council Leader Fran Belbin said:
“As politicians, our job is to support the people of our city to live in safety and have the opportunities they need to thrive. We have heard powerfully and passionately from our Sheffield Jewish community about how unsafe this Green Party motion makes them feel.
“When our neighbours feel they are under attack – whether that is our Muslim communities in Darnall and Wybourn, or our Jewish community – it is our duty to stand up for them.
“As a result of their actions, our trust in Sheffield Green Party is completely broken. The Greens that we formed a joint administration with in May feel like a very different organisation now. While many Green MPs, local leaders and members around the country have put out clear statements that address the problems with the motion, Sheffield Green Party have not.
“It is therefore our intention at full Council on Wednesday 4th November to put forward a Labour minority administration.
“Sheffield Labour will always put Sheffield first. We will fight ALL forms of racism, and keep working to bring communities together to overcome differences, not entrench them. We will never stop calling for justice for Palestinians.
“Council services will be unaffected by this change and we will continue to focus on the issues that matter to our citizens, including tackling poverty, improving our neighbourhoods and creating opportunities for young people.
“Through our committee system, all councillors will continue to contribute to decision making, and we hope and expect the spirit of professionalism and collegiality we have seen in recent years will continue so that we can together take decisions in the best interests of all Sheffielders.”
For further information please contact: press@sheffieldlabour.org<mailto:press@sheffieldlabour.org>
Source information
Source: Submitted by steve@radioessentials.co.uk