An Israeli city has cancelled an event to “fight racism” where people were to be encouraged to paint their faces black after a furious backlash.

Kiryat Malachi, in Southern Israel, had advertised what it described as an event “in the spirit of love” on Thursday morning outside city hall, where “everybody should come to paint their faces” in solidarity with the Ethiopian Jewish community in Israel.

The city’s social media accounts advertised the event, including the hashtag #fightingracism and a play on the word “Ethiopian” in Hebrew meaning “she is beautiful”.

Last month saw widespread protests by Israel’s Ethiopian Jewish community after the shooting of an 18 year old Israeli of Ethiopian origin, Solomon Teka, in June.

Tens of thousands took part in the protests, describing the racism and police discrimination they have experienced over the years.

The municipality appears to have been unaware that in many countries, “blacking up”, also known as “blackface”, where white people paint their faces to mimic black people, is considered racist.

Comments on social media included “my face is not your costume” and “what the hell were you thinking…a simple Google search would have shown you what a bad idea this was.”

Israeli Ethiopian activists on social media called for a counter-protest to take place in front of city hall at the same time against “racism and ignorance".

“Blackface? Not here!” one activist wrote.

“If the municipality wants to fight racism, they should publicly condemn police violence against Ethiopian immigrants…and return funds cut at the expense of the community.”

Another denounced the city’s event as “pure racism under the guise of solidarity.”

After the city cancelled the event, Ethiopan Jewish activists expressed “pride that this event did not take place.

“The amount of racism which would have taken place there is not easy to describe."