Zack Polanski has called on Labour to monitor British-Israelis who have served in the Israel Defense Forces.
The Green Party leader has signed an open letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood urging the Government to establish a database of around 2,000 dual nationals called up for military service by Israel following the October 7 terror attacks.
The letter, organised by Declassified UK, was also sent to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper.
The campaign group says it seeks to “investigate Britain’s military and intelligence agencies, powerful corporations and their impact on human rights and the environment,” according to its website.
Declassified UK argues a database is necessary should war crimes cases be brought in relation to the IDF’s actions in Gaza.
The open letter urges Labour to act swiftly in the interests of “public safety and justice” and calls on ministers to “track the movements of Brits who have served in the IDF”.
It also calls for British-Israeli dual nationals to be subject to “secondary screening where necessary at ports of entry”.
The group described the proposals as “simple requests and firmly in the public interest” and called for “robust war crimes investigations in line with domestic and international law”.
Under Israeli law, Jewish men and women are required to undertake military service, alongside Druze and Circassian men.
Israeli Arabs, along with Druze and Circassian women, are exempt from mandatory service, which lasts up to three years for men and two years for women.
Israelis who move abroad as adults, or who are born overseas to Israeli parents, are still legally required to regularise their status with the IDF.
The calls have been condemned by Board of Deputies of British Jews, which accused campaigners of unfairly targeting Israelis.
The organisation described the letter as “another attempt to demonise Israelis and promote an atmosphere of intimidation against British Jews”.
Declassified UK’s letter reads: “We, the undersigned, are politicians, lawyers, campaigners, human rights defenders, journalists, and other professionals who believe the public interest is best served by monitoring the entry of British-Israeli dual national citizens into the UK and investigating potential links to war crimes, in cases where they have served in the IDF.
“Individuals who have returned from fighting in Gaza may now be living alongside us and working in public institutions such as hospitals, the police, and schools.
“Nobody wants to live next to a potential war criminal – not least members of the Palestinian community in the UK who have family or friends who have been subjected to war crimes.”
Alongside Mr Polanski, the letter has been signed by Jeremy Corbyn, Diane Abbott, John McDonnell, Zarah Sultana and Brian Leishman.
Independent MPs Shockat Adam, Iqbal Mohamed and Ayoub Khan are also among the signatories.
The Conservatives criticised Mr Polanski’s decision to sign the document.
The party’s chairman, Kevin Hollinrake, told The Telegraph: “At a time when antisemitism is on the rise, Zack Polanski should not be stoking further division and hostility in our society.
“[He] should immediately withdraw his name from this letter, and the Green Party need to get serious about tackling antisemitism and rooting out hate within their own ranks.”
A spokesman for Mr Polanski said: “The IDF has been credibly accused of horrific war crimes in Gaza by bodies including the UN Human Rights Council, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, and the UK Government should be taking robust action against any British citizen complicit in these crimes.
