Green Party leader Zack Polanski is facing intense criticism after a video resurfaced in which he suggested that fears about antisemitic attacks within Jewish communities may be a matter of “perception of unsafety” rather than actual danger — comments that landed days before two Jewish men were stabbed in Golders Green in a knife attack now being investigated by counter-terrorism police.
The contrast between Polanski’s words and the violence that followed has drawn furious responses online, with one user writing sarcastically: “Don’t know why he’s worried, it’s probably just a perception of unsafety and a couple of unstabbings.” Another went further, claiming: “Your leadership of the Green Party is the greatest current threat to the Jewish community.”
The comments in question were made in an interview with Israeli newspaper Haaretz on 22 April. Polanski acknowledged that Jewish communities were “feeling unsafe” in the wake of arson attacks on ambulances, but then added: “There’s a conversation to be had about whether it’s a perception of unsafety or whether it’s actual unsafety, but neither is acceptable.” Following publication of the interview, he posted on X that Jewish communities were “living in fear” — but appended a caveat that antisemitism was “being weaponised to shut down criticism of the Israeli government,” a framing that drew immediate criticism.
Sir Keir Starmer branded some of Polanski’s comments “disgraceful.” Polanski responded by accusing the Prime Minister of “playing silly games with a really serious issue” and said antisemitism required “the consideration and care and nuance that a really serious issue requires.”
Days later, two Jewish men — one in his 70s and another in his 30s — were rushed to hospital after being stabbed on Golders Green Road in north London by a man seen running along the street armed with a knife and attempting to target Jewish members of the public. Counter-terrorism police are now investigating the attack, which occurred a short distance from where four Jewish community ambulances were firebombed last month. Police are also separately investigating recent arson attacks on two synagogues and a memorial wall in the area.
Following the stabbings, Polanski posted on X: “Horrendous attack in Golders Green. Thinking of the victims, their families and everyone who will once again be shaken by this attack. Thank you to all of those involved with the emergency response.” The statement did little to quell the anger directed at him, with critics pointing to his earlier remarks as evidence of a fundamental failure to take the threat to Jewish communities seriously.
Polanski, who is Jewish and changed his surname to reflect his heritage when he turned 18, has been a vocal critic of Israel throughout the Gaza conflict. Members of his party have attempted to pass a motion declaring “Zionism is racism,” a move that would effectively brand pro-Israeli members of his own extended family as racist. The Green Party’s now-deputy leader Mothin Ali posted a video on the day of the Hamas attack on Israel on 7 October 2023 in which he said Palestinians had the right to “fight back” and referred to Israel as a “settler, colonial, occupier.”
The Green Party was contacted for comment.
