Greenwich Council members on Wednesday (November 11) unanimously passed a submission recognising “the deep concern this motion has caused within Jewish communities” after hearing from local Jews who described their experiences of antisemitism.
asserted
who → pass → antisemitism
Lubna Speitan, the proposer of the divisive Green Party motion, was at the meeting to see her proposal robustly rejected.
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proposal → see → meeting
During a public question, she said: “Whatever motion Labour tables will not change the fact that Zionism is racist or that Green Party members passed this policy democratically.”
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members → say → policy
The council’s motion was proposed by council leader Anthony Okereke and seconded by Conservative group leader Charlie Davis in a bipartisan show of support for Greenwich Jews troubled by the Green Party’s actions.
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motion → propose → actions
The motion agreed with a statement from the Greenwich Multi-Faith Forum that said, in part: “We do not agree with this [Green Party] motion and are concerned that it risks deepening division and undermining the sense of safety and belonging of Jewish people.
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it → agree → people
Michelle Brooks-Evans, treasurer of the forum and chair of Bromley Reform Synagogue, spoke in support of the council’s motion as she described recent acts of antisemitism experienced by her family.
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she → speak → family
Michelle revealed one of her daughters recently had swastikas drawn on her school books, and her son had been called a “baby-killer who should have died in a gas chamber” while at university.
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who → reveal → university
She said: “I’ve always believed this is a place where people of different faiths and backgrounds can live together with mutual respect and understanding.
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people → say → respect
But today, that sense of safety and belonging is being eroded.”
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sense → erode → safety
While Michelle was speaking, someone sitting in the public gallery displayed a sheet of paper stating: “I live in Greenwich.
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I → speak → Greenwich
I believe Zionism is racism”.
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Zionism → believe → ?
The sign was quickly confiscated by council officers.
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sign → confiscate → officers
Rabbi Ephraim Carlebach from Greenwich & Docklands Chabad called upon the people of the borough to stand up against racism and hatred in all its forms.
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Carlebach → call → forms
He said words “can divide and make problems” but also have the ability to “unite and inspire people”.
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words → say → people
While both Michelle and the rabbi were speaking, Palestine activists in the public gallery were filming them on their phones.
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activists → speak → phones
Cllr Matt Hartley, former Conservative leader, criticised the “intimidating” actions as well as the “offensive banner” that was confiscated.
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that → criticise → actions
Lubna Speitan gained national attention when she proposed the ‘Zionism is racism’ motion that was approved by the Green Party membership at its 2026 conference in early October.
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that → gain → October
She is a Greenwich resident who regularly attends council meetings.
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who → attend → meetings
A founding member of Greenwich Palestine Alliance, Lubna instigated legal action against Greenwich Council earlier this year, challenging the authority’s failure to divest over £60million in investments in companies with interests in Israel.
During public questions, Lubna criticised the “misleading, false and divisive” framing of the council’s new motion and said the Greenwich Multi-Faith Forum excluded “anti-Zionist Jews, Muslims and many other faith groups”.
Lubna said “Conflating anti-Zionism with antisemitism is in itself, antisemitic” and described Israel as a “racist apartheid settler colony committing genocide”.
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Conflating → found → genocide
Israel has consistently denied it is committing genocide in Gaza though a UN Commission of Inquiry concluded just last month that “Israel has committed war crimes and crimes against humanity in the Occupied Palestinian Territory amid continuing genocide in Gaza”.
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Israel → deny → Gaza
When debating the motion, Cllr Okereke said the Green Party motion had “triggered worry and concern” in Greenwich, and that the council’s motion “commits us to working and tackling all types of hatred in our communities.”
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motion → debate → communities
Cllr Tamasin Rhymes, the Green opposition leader in Greenwich, said her group would be supporting the motion “on the basis of the Green Party’s commitment to the Equality and Equity Charter and believe that the council must uphold the Equality Act 2010 and tackle all forms of discrimination and racism equally”.
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council → say → discrimination
Cllr Rhymes also made reference to those killed in Gaza.
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Rhymes → make → Gaza
“On Remembrance Day, as we remember those who have and do serve, I’m also reminded of those who die as civilians in conflict,” she said.
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she → remember → conflict
Once the council meeting concluded, Lubna shouted at councillors to consider the feelings of Palestinians in the borough who were “witnessing the erasure of our people”.
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who → conclude → people
She shouted “Free Palestine” upon being escorted from the chamber by members of security.
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She → shout → security
The Aporia
