A report by a Labour-affiliated group has tried to blame Israel for stoking the antisemitism crisis that engulfed Jeremy Corbyn's party.

Charles James, secretary of Labour International, makes the allegation to the group's 3,500 members in a new paper entitled “General Election Part Two: Why didn’t we win?”

In an argument which cited the much-criticised Al Jazeera documentary The Lobby, Mr James writes: "Many of us believe that the row about antisemitism has been stoked by Israel and its helpers in the UK."

The Daily Telegraph, which had seen the report, reported that Mr James accused the Israeli government of “putting significant efforts and finances into influencing British politics” in order to “prevent the election of a Labour government that will recognise a Palestinian state”.

Arguing against the evidence of widespread antisemitism in Labour, Mr James cited the fact that Ed Miliband was elected previous leader of the party in a contest with his brother David.

In the report, Mr James claimed that when Jeremy Corbyn met two Jewish organisations – believed to be the Board of Deputies and Jewish Leadership Council -  in 2018 to discuss antisemitism "many of these representatives had links to the Conservative Party".

"Jeremy was conciliatory. He could have pushed back on his visitors by asking why they never addressed antisemitism in the Tory party," he said.

The Telegraph also revealed Facebook posts by Colin O'Driscoll, co-chairman of Labour International.

He wrote: "Antisemitism accusations are a sideshow, a convenient weapon being used on behalf of the Right in British society to derail Corbyn and his supporters."

He also claimed that the Jewish Leadership Council and the Board of Deputies were "overwhelmingly Tory supporters" who were "happy to participate in overheated hyperbole because it suits their class interests".

Mr O'Driscoll did not respond to the JC's request for comment.

Mr James said in his report: "If any member of my Constituency Labour Party has concerns, no doubt they will contact me."

Jennifer Gerber, director of Labour Friends of Israel, said the report represented "the kind of conspiracy mongering and victim blaming that has been a constant feature of the anti-Semitism crisis under Jeremy Corbyn".