John Swinney urged to condemn Ross Greer remarks on Zionism

John Swinney has been urged to condemn the remarks of Scottish Green co-leader Ross Greer on Israel and Zionism.

Reform’s Scottish leader Malcolm Offord raised the comments during FMQs, describing them as “racist” and “blatantly antisemitic”.

It follows Greer telling the BBC earlier this week that the creation of the state of Israel was “an act of racism” when asked about the Green Party of England and Wales (GPEW) adopting a policy that described Zionism as racism.

The first minister said he did not agree with GPEW’s policy, though did not make any comment on Greer’s views.

He went on to attack Reform for “bringing racism into the chamber”, highlighting a debate scheduled later on Thursday led by deputy leader Thomas Kerr on a burka ban.

GPEW’s new policy was agreed by party members at the weekend. The motion declared Zionism to be racism, defining it as support for “an ethnonationalist Jewish state”, and backed the creation of a “single democratic Palestinian state in all of historic Palestine”.

It has caused a significant split within the party, while the European Greens made a statement distancing itself from the position.

The Scottish Greens are an entirely separate party from GPEW, though the two collaborate closely on areas of shared interested.

When asked about the policy, the Greer said he did not agree with all parts of the motion but he described the creation if Israel as “an act of ethnic cleansing”.

Asked if he considers Zionism to be racism, Greer answered “yes”.

Raising the issue on Thursday afternoon in the Scottish Parliament, Offord said: “Let it be said loud and clear in this chamber – Zionism is neither racist nor genocidal.”

He added that Jewish communities were living with “fear, anxiety and trauma” in light of growing antisemitism in Scotland, calling on Swinney to start making amends by “condemning the racist rhetoric and blatant antisemitism of the Green Party”.

The first minister replied: “I don’t agree with the conclusion that was arrived at by the Green Party conference in England and Wales. I believe that there should be a two-state solution to the issues and conflicts in the Middle East. I believe that is the only route to deliver peace and stability, although I accept that at this moment the challenges of doing so are particularly acute.”

He said he was committed to ensuring the “safety and security” of Jews in Scotland, adding that his “duty as first minister” was to ensure “every community” felt safe.

He continued: “It is utterly beyond parody that Malcolm Offord invites me to take action on racism when he leads a party that had brought racism into this parliamentary chamber.”

Kerr is to lead a debate on face coverings in public places later on Thursday, with his motion calling for an “assessment of the potential benefits of introducing further restrictions on full-face coverings in public places, including consideration of public safety, individual liberty and community cohesion”.