Zack Polanski has urged the government to terminate the UK-Israel trade agreement in response to the recent Israeli military actions in Lebanon.
During the launch of the Green Party’s local election campaign in London, Polanski called on Labour leader Keir Starmer to prohibit the United States from utilizing UK airspace and to impose sanctions on Israel, criticizing the nation for its “completely uncontrolled behavior.”
“What will it take for this government to implement significant sanctions against Israel?” he questioned. “It is unacceptable that Israel continues to receive diplomatic and trade advantages from the global community. As a Green Party, we demand the government to enforce stricter sanctions, revoke the UK-Israel trade agreement, and put an end to the genocide.”
Polanski challenged the Prime Minister’s assertion that the UK is “not involved” in the conflict with Iran, suggesting that this statement is misleading due to the use of UK bases by US bombers targeting Iran. “We need to separate the UK military from the US military and prohibit the US from using our airspace,” he stated.
When questioned about the potential economic implications of terminating the trade agreement with Israel, Polanski emphasized that human lives should not be measured by economic costs.
He described former President Trump as “an increasingly unpredictable and dangerous individual,” asserting that recent events have validated his concerns regarding Trump. “Just a few days ago, he expressed a willingness to annihilate a civilization,” Polanski remarked.
During the press conference, Polanski also critiqued the Labour Party on housing issues, asserting that Green-led councils would prioritize the construction of new council houses and would confront property developers who resist the development of affordable housing.
Labour has pledged to build 1.5 million new homes in England by the end of the decade, but developers have expressed skepticism about the feasibility of this target. Housing Secretary Steve Reed has acknowledged that a significant increase in construction would be necessary to achieve it.
“We face a housing crisis, but we also contend with an affordability crisis,” Polanski stated. “It’s crucial to ensure that we construct the appropriate homes at the right price and in the right locations. Unfortunately, Labour councils often prioritize luxury, unaffordable developments that are not suitable for residents.”
In response, Labour accused Green Party councillors of attempting to obstruct the construction of 42,000 homes nationwide since 2018, claiming they have failed to deliver social rented housing in areas where they are in power.
Reed asserted, “There is nothing progressive about leaving families in temporary accommodations. If you are not prepared to build the homes that Londoners require, you are choosing to keep them in those situations.”
Polanski dismissed the figure as “complete nonsense,” but added, “If a development is halted because it is an unaffordable luxury project, I stand behind any Green Party council that takes such action.”
Zoë Garbett, the Green Party’s candidate for mayor in Hackney, indicated her intention to urge London Mayor Sadiq Khan to implement rent controls. When Polanski was asked about the feasibility of this, given that local authorities cannot impose such controls, he responded that it is not “a radical or extreme policy.”
