The Black and Ethnic Minorities (BME) officer at Bristol university is facing an investigation by the student union after telling a Jewish student on social media that he should “be like Israel and cease to exist”.

Omar Chowdhury, who was elected to his position on a platform which included “zero tolerance for racism”, also said Izzy Posen should “f*** off”, telling him “your comments are like Israeli settlements: always popping up where they are not wanted.”

Mr Chowdhury’s comments appeared on the Bristruths Facebook page, which is used by students at the university, who are able to use it to post messages on how they feel without revealing their identities.

Subsequently, a Jewish student, posting anonymously, said that if Mr Chowdhury was not removed from his position as a student union officer it would be “such a double standard”, saying that a precedent needed to be set to punish this type of behaviour.

“Jewish people are repeatedly swept under the rug, people are continually allowed to get away with this stuff,” the student wrote, accusing Mr Chowdhury of being “both anti-Zionist and antisemitic.

“This is clearly someone who shouldn’t be representing Bristol students.”

Sally Patterson, Bristol University’s Equality, Liberation and Access officer, who is Jewish, responded to this message assuring the student that the case was being “investigated under the student union’s code of conduct.

“Bristol SU takes accusations of antisemitism extremely seriously and will investigate fully and confirm the outcomes with both the students involved.”