Anglican Friends of Israel welcomes the news of the removal of the Liberal Democrat Party Whip from Bradford East MP David Ward.

Ward made comments in the run up to Holocaust Memorial Day in January 2013 which caused significant revulsion:

Having visited Auschwitz twice -– once with my family and once with local schools -– I am saddened that the Jews, who suffered unbelievable levels of persecution during the Holocaust, could within a few years of liberation from the death camps be inflicting atrocities on Palestinians in the new State of Israel and continue to do so on a daily basis in the West Bank and Gaza.

Ward made further comments on Twitter earlier this month:

Am I wrong or are (sic) am I right? At long last the #Zionists are losing the battle -– how long can the #apartheid State of #Israel last?

Following a meeting with Party officials (including the Deputy Prime Minister and Chief Whip Alistair Carmichael), Ward received written notification of a 2-month suspension.

An AFI spokesperson said:

We broadly welcome the news of Mr. Ward’’s sanction although this appears to be a very limited gesture. The removal of the whip during the summer recess and expiring the day before the Liberal Democrats Autumn Conference is a soft option. We take some solace from the fact that the Liberal Democrats have informed Mr. Ward that he should use balanced and proportionate language in future discussions of Israel/Palestine.

Given the potential for renewed peace talks we especially urge him to heed Party advice and to consider the responsibilities he has as an elected representative.

The Liberal Democrats are no strangers to dissention and fall-out over Israel. Baroness Tonge courted controversy for many years. finally resigning the Liberal Democrat whip in 2012 having received an ultimatum from party leader Nick Clegg to do so or to apologise for inappropriate comments she made at an event at Middlesex University.