Board of Deputies president Jonathan Arkush has encouraged British Jews to take part in a counter-demonstration against a planned neo-Nazi protest.

Mr Arkush said he would stand alongside community members in response to the extremist groups due to protest in Golders Green, north-west London, on July 4 , a Shabbat. He said the planned rally was "ugly, blatantly antisemitic, provocative and utterly unacceptable".

On Sunday, leading his first Board plenary meeting since being elected last month, Mr Arkush said: "For those of you who want to gather together and show we reject antisemitism, we will come together - if necessary - out of dignity, out of strength, out of pride in our identity and our utter revulsion of racism at every source.

"I will not hesitate to call the community to come together in that way - indeed I will be present myself in the area for Shabbat, if it comes to it."

However, Golders Green Synagogue deputy Jonathan Davies said his shul did not support the counter-demonstration, and was "very concerned" about how it may affect congregants.

‘I will present myself in the area for Shabbat if it comes to it’

"It is giving a small number of demonstrators the oxygen of publicity, it is treating them with far more respect than they deserve, it is in danger of backfiring on our community and it may endanger those members of our community who have to walk through Golders Green to get to shul," he said.

But Mr Arkush argued that there was no option but to counter the fascist demonstration.

He said: "If people who have the gall and stupidity and historical amnesia to proclaim themselves Nazi sympathisers, turn up on the streets in a Jewish part of London on any day, let alone Shabbat, I don't think it's feasible to turn our backs and pretend it's not happening, and it's certainly not feasible when our friends from other faiths will be there."

JNF deputy Gary Mond pledged Shabbat hospitality and bottles of water to anyone planning to join the counter-protest.

Golders Green Together, a campaign celebrating unity and diversity set up by anti-extremism group Hope Not Hate, the London Jewish Forum and the Board, continued its programme of events by handing out leaflets in the area on Sunday.

Hope Not Hate's Jemma Levene said the group was planning a social media drive for July 2. More than 100 people have signed up to a service that will simultaneously send out an identical message of support for Golders Green Together from their social media accounts.

The post, to be used on Facebook, Twitter or Tumblr, will read "I'm supporting #GoldersGreenTogether because I'm saying no to #antisemitism and yes to #unity on 4th July".

Ms Levene said that despite his claims last week, white supremacist Joshua Bonehill-Paine was not in charge of the neo-Nazi protest. He had declared his intention to destroy Israeli flags and burn the Talmud on July 4, but is banned from entering London on police orders following his previous involvement in a similar demonstration in Stamford Hill earlier this year.

"In terms of burning a Talmud, he's picking the most offensive trope he can find. He doesn't know what a Talmud is or where to find one. There's just no way it's going to happen," Ms Levene said.

Community Security Trust communications director Mark Gardner said: "Joshua Bonehill-Paine is a lone fantasist who repeatedly uses social media to make provocations he hopes will be picked up by the media. He faces restrictions on his movement, does not live in London and is at odds with the actual organiser of this demonstration."

The grassroots group Campaign Against Antisemitism said it was continuing its discussions with the police about plans for the counter-protest. The CAA said it hoped police would use their powers to "cripple" the demonstration, but admitted it was "proving very difficult".

Over 2,500 people have signed up on CAA's website to attend the counter-demonstration. The group will finalise its plans next week, but said it had sought rabbinic advice to ensure counter-demonstrators could take part without breaking Shabbat. CAA has advertised T-shirts bearing its "No to Nazis, here or anywhere" logo, for sale between £11.50 and £18 as an alternative to carrying placards.

"We will not be having speeches, as our rejection of neo-Nazis does not need explaining," a CAA spokesperson said.

A group of MPs have called for "every measure" to be taken to protect the community ahead of the rally. Led by Hampstead and Kilburn MP Tulip Siddiq, they signed an early-day motion in Parliament on Tuesday praising the efforts of anti-extremism campaigners. They also called on Home Secretary Theresa May to take further action to stop offensive protests and demonstrations.

Ms Siddiq's motion is sponsored by fellow Labour MPs Sadiq Khan, Wes Streeting and Ruth Smeeth, and Conservative Peter Bottomley. More than 20 MPs across all parties have backed it.

Ms Siddiq's constituency borders the Golders Green area.

There was growing anger among some community members over the police response to the rally. Barnet Police Chief Superintendent Adrian Usher wrote an open letter to the Jewish community in an attempt to allay fears, acknowledging "the enormous hurt being felt". He said officers had been working hard "in their planning and intelligence-gathering" and said it was vital to wait until nearer July 4 to take further steps, while ensuring the police response remained lawful.

In reply to one complainant, Chief Superintendent Usher wrote that "websites, blogs, tweets and other social media have to be legally proved to be attributable to the organisers for us to act. We have investigators attempting to track down anything illegal. If we are successful, prosecutions will follow. I won't disguise that this is a difficult task."

He said that, in his view, there was "a huge amount of misplaced anger at the Metropolitan Police".

Golders Green MP Mike Freer said he had been in contact with Chief Superintendent Usher and along with representatives from CST, the London Jewish Forum, the Board and the Jewish Leadership Council held talks with Police Minister Mike Penning this week in what was described as a constructive meeting.

Mr Freer said: "The police are keeping their cards close to their chest, monitoring all the groups and online activity, and will take a view closer to the event. It's very much a matter of watching and waiting."

Richmond Park MP Zac Goldsmith said the protest was "a " vile publicity stunt". He added: "If it crosses the line into incitement or abuse, then the police are obliged to protect the community with every tool at their disposal."

Barnet Council leader Richard Cornelius said that the council had been reassured by the police that they were doing all they could to manage the rally.