Green Party Leader Zack Polanski Demands End to UK-Israel Trade Deal Amid Lebanon Escalation

Green leader Zack Polanski demands robust sanctions on Israel and a ban on US military flights in UK airspace. Read the latest Green Party campaign news.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 10, 2026, 10:38 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from The Guardian

A Call for Robust Sanctions and Trade Withdrawal

At a high-profile campaign launch on Thursday, Zack Polanski issued a direct challenge to the UK government's foreign policy stance regarding the 2026 Middle East crisis. Polanski argued that the current 14-day ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran is insufficient if Israel continues to conduct military operations in Lebanon. He demanded that the UK "tear up" its existing trade agreement with Israel, asserting that the international community must stop granting "diplomatic and trade privileges" to a state he accused of pursuing a "genocide." When questioned on the potential economic fallout of ending the trade deal, Polanski maintained that the government should not "put a cost on people’s lives."

Disentangling the UK and US Military Alliance

The Green leader also took aim at the logistical cooperation between the UK and the United States. Polanski characterized Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s claims of British neutrality in the Iran conflict as "not entirely truthful," citing the use of UK military bases to facilitate U.S. bombing runs. He called for a formal ban on U.S. aircraft using UK airspace for offensive operations, advocating for a total "disentanglement" of the two nations' militaries. Polanski's rhetoric focused on the "unpredictable and dangerous" nature of President Donald Trump, citing the President's recent social media warnings as evidence of a global security risk that the UK should distance itself from.

Housing Crisis and the "Affordability" Debate

Shifting focus to domestic issues, Polanski utilized the election launch to criticize the Labour Party's housing strategy. While Labour has pledged to build 1.5 million new homes by 2030, Polanski argued that many Labour-run councils are prioritizing "luxury, unaffordable buildings" over social and council housing. He vowed that Green-led local authorities would "stand up" to developers who resist building genuinely affordable homes. Polanski defended the Green Party's record of blocking certain developments, stating he was "proud" to oppose projects that do not meet the needs of low-income families.