Elise Danielle Benjamin

British Green Party activist, Jewish Greens member and community organiser in Oxford

Elise Danielle Benjamin
Image
Born	10 December 1965 Barnet, London, England
Died
Nationality	British
Residence
Occupation	Community market coordinator, political liaison officer, administrator
Known for	Jewish Greens activist in the Green Party of England and Wales; opposition to "Zionism is racism" motion
Parents	Brian Ralph Benjamin (born 6 February 1940, died 1985) and Janice Benjamin (née Abrams)
Spouse(s)
Children
Sibling(s)
Website

Elise Danielle Benjamin (born December 1965) is a British Green Party activist, community organiser, former parliamentary liaison officer and leading member of the Jewish Greens. She and Craig Simmons have been registered to the same address in Oxford on the Electoral Roll since 2002.

Elise Benjamin claims to be an 'indigenous Judean'.

Family

She is the daughter of Brian Ralph Benjamin (born 6 February 1940, died 1985) and Janice Benjamin (née Abrams) (married October–December 1962 in the Hackney district).

Her maternal grandparents were Hannah Abrams nee Lefcovitch (B:8 June 1900 St George in the East, London, England; D:24 May 1982 Whetstone, London, England) and Charles Abrams (AKA Shaya Mendel Iovanovitch Abramovitch) (B:14 Sep 1904 Odessa, Ukraine D:10th September 1988 London, England)

Her paternal grandparents were Philip Brown (B:11 May 1909 London, United Kingdom D:29 Aug 1993 Brent, Greater London, England) and Dora Brown (nee Toper) (B:7 January 1916 Mile End, London D:31 March 1992 Colney Heath, Herts)

Her own birth was registered October–December 1965 in Barnet district (mother’s maiden name Abrams).

She has lived in Oxford, OX4 since at least 2002 in a house that she co-owns with Craig Simmons, purchased for £96,000 on 31 January 1997.

Education and job history

Benjamin attended Southaw School (1977–1980) and East Barnet School (1980–1984).

Her professional roles include:

• Market Coordinator, East Oxford Farmers’ & Community Market (November 2016 – present).
• Regional Liaison Officer for Oxon & Berks, first for Caroline Lucas MEP (2008–2010) then Keith Taylor MEP (2010–2014).
• Financial Administrator, Africa Now (2002–2008).
• Project Administrator, RAP Community Action (2002–2003).
• Senior Administrator, Oxford Brookes University (1994–2001).

Jewish Greens and Zionism

Benjamin is an active member of the Jewish Greens (the Jewish special interest group within the Green Party). She has chaired events including “A guide to the Jewish Community” (September 2021) and “Discrimination against Gypsies Roma Travellers” (February 2021).

Her Twitter/X bio (@EliseDB) describes her as an “indigenous Judean” and includes a Ukraine flag emoji.

She has publicly opposed motions describing Zionism as racism at Green Party conferences, including in 2026.

The Jewish Greens group organises events that are frequently critical of Israeli government policies, including discussions on the Gaza crisis with speakers such as Daniel Levy (former IDF member and critic of the occupation) and joint Israeli-Palestinian initiatives such as A Land for All. The group has hosted Holocaust Memorial Day events and environmental Jewish events but does not promote uncritical support for Israeli policies; its focus is on peace, justice and criticism of occupation.

Benjamin and her co-habitee Craig Simmons (fellow Jewish Greens member and long-term resident at the same Oxford address) have both defended the Israeli-Palestinian peace group Standing Together against calls to deny it a platform at Green Party conference.

Benjamin stated: “Standing Together are a peace and social justice organisation with a Palestinian co-leader and many Palestinian members. Of course they work for the rights of Palestinians – they are very clear on this.”

Simmons added: “Neither Standing Together or Friends of Standing Together are on the BDS Boycott List … It could, at most, be argued that the BNC implicitly supports a boycott.”

Benjamin has retweeted Catherine Perez-Shakdam (alleged Mossad-linked figure and Henry Jackson Society associate) and other prominent Hasbara exponents including Hen Mazzig and accounts associated with the Israel Advocacy Movement and UK Lawyers for Israel.

Company directorships

Elise Danielle Benjamin company appointments (updated with co-directors and dates of service)

Company	Company Number	Role	Appointed	Resigned	Other directors (selected, with dates of service where recorded)
The Free West Papua Campaign	09186009	Active Director	29 October 2017	—	Ambo Aspalek (Director since 27 February 2023); Andrew James Gray (Director since 21 August 2014); Loveday Rosalind King (Director since 22 March 2026); Louise Honor O'Leary (Director since 22 August 2018); Sean Victor O'Leary (Director since 22 August 2018 and Secretary since 16 May 2025); Millius Mcube Palayiwa (Director since 10 June 2025); Benny Wenda (Director since 21 August 2014); Maria Wenda (Director since 22 April 2016); Wenegwe Torin Wenda (Director since 10 June 2025)
Donnington Doorstep	07720385	Resigned Director	22 October 2012	19 January 2015	Vanessa Eade (Director 26 March 2012 – 19 January 2015); Ruth Claire Hawkins (Director 27 July 2011 – 19 January 2015); Masako Sparrowhawk (Director since 1 July 2012, still active); Evin Abrishami (Director since 18 October 2021); Brad Baines (Director since 18 October 2021); Rosie Rawle (Director since 20 September 2022)
Oxford Greenprint Limited	03324495	Resigned Director	28 February 1997	19 August 2011	Deborah Madeline Glass Woodin (Director since 13 July 2006, still active; Secretary since 30 January 2007); Paul Vincent Vernon (Director since 1 September 2016, still active); Paul Martin Ingram (Director & Secretary 28 February 1997 – 30 January 2007); Owen English (Director 19 August 2011 – 30 September 2013); Michael Edward Woodin (Director 28 February 1997 – 21 July 2004)
Fusion-Oxford's Community Arts Agency Limited	02089425	Resigned Director	25 February 1998 (first term) & 25 February 2003 (second term)	19 December 2000 & 10 December 2003	Sarah Blair (Director since 25 March 2025); Matilda Mcevedy (Director since 10 June 2025); Roger McKenzie (Director since 5 December 2017); Sally Ann Mckone (Director since 14 April 2018); Nobuhle Regina Tafadzwa Ndhlovu (Director since 1 September 2020); Ines Alessandra Smyth (Director since 10 June 2025); Vanessa Irene Sandra Vogwill (Director since 25 March 2025); numerous earlier co-directors including Clare Carswell (multiple terms 1998–2003 overlapping with Benjamin) and Tiffany Mary Dalby Black (2001–2003)
Oxford Citizens Advice Bureau	03330267	Resigned Director	11 July 2000	17 September 2002	David John Betts (Director since 28 March 2022); James Richard Heywood (Director since 17 March 2020); Iain Douglas Hamilton Lappin-Smith (Director since 13 November 2023); Madeline Laxton (Director since 9 November 2021); Jonathan Pym (Director since 21 September 2018); Danielle Rosemary Rowe (Director since 5 January 2022); earlier co-directors during her tenure included Robin Arthur Birch (1997–2004), Glynis Benson (1997–2001), and Heather Bliss (2005–2009 but overlapping period)

See also

• Jewish Greens
• Green Party of England and Wales
• Standing Together (Israel)
• Craig Simmons