Green Party Leader Signs Letter Urging Database of British-Israeli Dual Nationals

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has signed an open letter calling for a database of around 2,000 British-Israeli dual nationals who have served in the Israel Defense Forces. The letter, organized by Declassified UK, was sent to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.

It urges ministers to track movements of British citizens who served in the IDF and to apply secondary screening at ports of entry when necessary.

Background on the Proposal Declassified UK states the database would support potential war crimes investigations related to IDF actions in Gaza. " Under Israeli law, Jewish men and women, along with Druze and Circassian men, are required to perform military service.

Israelis living abroad or born overseas to Israeli parents must still register with the IDF.

Reactions to the Letter The Board of Deputies of British Jews described the letter as an attempt to demonise Israelis and promote intimidation against British Jews. The group said the proposal unfairly targets Israelis. A spokesperson for Zack Polanski said the IDF has been accused of war crimes by the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International, and that the government should take action against any British citizen complicit in such crimes.

The letter was also signed by Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott, John McDonnell, Zarah Sultana, Brian Leishman, and independent MPs Shockat Adam, Iqbal Mohamed, and Ayoub Khan.