Jewish leaders have reacted with fury to the BBC's decision to invite anti-Israel MP George Galloway onto a Question Time panel in Finchley, north-west London.

Mr Galloway, who refuses to debate with Israelis, will be a guest on the BBC1 current affairs programme when it is filmed in the parliamentary constituency with the country's largest Jewish population next week.

In a letter to the corporation, Simon Johnson, the chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council, questioned whether Danny Cohen, the director of television at the BBC, thought the decision was "responsible".

Mr Johnson told the JC that the invitation was "at best insensitive and at worst an unnecessary provocative stunt, which is unbecoming of the UK's national broadcaster".

Simon Cobbs, co-founder of grassroots advocacy group Sussex Friends of Israel, described the decision as outrageous. He said: "Out of all the MPs, they had to put Galloway in Finchley. They've done it for provocation."

Finchley and Golders Green MP Mike Freer also believed that the BBC's invitation to the Respect MP was deliberately provocative.

"The BBC can't have done it by accident. Given what's going on in the world it is a slap in the face for the local community. It lacks sensitivity," the Conservative MP said.

A BBC spokesperson defended the move, saying: "Question Time invites panellists who reflect a significant range of opinions on a number of different topics. Whilst Mr Galloway's views are entirely his own, as an MP he has a right to appear on the programme and has done so previously."

Mark Gardner, of the Community Security Trust, said the organisation had raised concerns with police about potential heightened tensions outside the venue where the recording is to take place.

On Wednesday, Mr Galloway tweeted: "I have been attacked three times in four months by supporters of Israel. 1 jailed 2 fined. If I am attacked at BBC QT who will be blamed."

Question Time is a BBC Scotland programme made by the Mentorn Scotland production company.