Tony Greenstein has been a prominent figure in the pro-Palestine movement in the UK [Getty]
The UK’s Green Party has suspended prominent Jewish anti-Zionist activist, Tony Greenstein, over alleged ‘antisemitism’, following his strong criticisms of Israel.
The Canary reported that Greenstein’s suspension was approved by the Green Party’s regional council by 11 votes to 1, with the basis of the decision being what the party described as a “history of antisemitism, including court decisions and recent terrorism charges”.
Greenstein joined the Labour Party under former leader Jeremy Corbyn but was expelled in 2018 following allegations of antisemitism, something Greenstein strongly denies.
He was a founding member of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign.
He was also given a nine-month suspended sentence following charges under the Terrorism Act 2000 for his role in the break-in at an Elbit factory, the weapons maker that has been repeatedly targeted by Palestine Action due to its supplying arms to Israel.
Greenstein, a leading left-wing critic of Israel, told The Jerusalem Post that he will challenge his suspension, which he claims is due to his unsuccessful attempt at the party’s most recent conference to equate Zionism with racism.
“There is no basis to my suspension,” he told The Jerusalem Post, claiming that the Green Party leadership was “acting on behalf of supporters of the Gaza genocide” regarding the actions against him.
The antisemitism claim was “particularly offensive when directed at Jewish anti-Zionists, and it’s losing its effectiveness”, he said.
He wrote to the party telling them the allegations against him were based on false assumptions and said the leadership had buckled under media pressure.
He also claimed the decision came from the “Corbyn playbook”, referring to the accusations of widespread antisemitism within the Labour Party under the veteran left-wing politician’s leadership.
Greenstein has been involved in left-wing and anti-racism politics throughout his life, becoming a pivotal figure in preventing the far-right from gaining a foothold in the city.
He has become increasingly involved in anti-Israeli politics, agreeing with widespread views among experts that the war in Gaza is a genocide, and claimed that antisemites have never had an issue with Zionism.
