The Israeli ambassador to Britain has called on the leader of the Liberal Democrats to take action against David Ward, over comments about Benjamin Netanyahu’s presence at Sunday’s unity rally in France.
Mr Benjamin Netanyahu joined other world leaders in Paris to show solidarity following the terrorist attacks on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo and a kosher supermarket .
Tweet sents from Mr Ward’s account read: “Netanyahu in Paris march – makes me feel sick. Je suis Palestinian”.
In a letter to deputy prime minister Nick Clegg, ambassador Daniel Taub wrote: “Mr Ward’s statement is a disgraceful attempt to politicise suffering.
“It also exhibits a callous disregard for the Jews of France, many of whom look to Israel as they are increasingly targeted merely because of their religion.
“Mr Ward’s comments are offensive and shocking, but more shocking still is the continued impunity that he seems to enjoy from his party.”
He added: “I was heartened to read of your promise to the Jewish community at your Chanucah reception only three weeks ago, to ‘speak out against the politics of vitriol, of blame, of grievance, of hatred’.
“I urge you to take forceful and immediate action to implement this commitment fully within the party you lead.”
Mr Ward has previously been condemned over his tweets about Jews and Israel.
The Bradford East MP previously said he would “probably” fire a rocket if he lived in Gaza.
In 2013, ahead of Holocaust Memorial Day, he accused “the Jews” of afflicting “atrocities on the Palestinians”.
