A pro-Israel group has welcomed the suspension of a Bradford MP from his party.

Bradford East MP David Ward has been suspended by the Liberal Democrats until September, after he tweeted his thoughts about the state of Israel.

His tweet read: “Am I wrong or am I right? At long last the #Zionists are losing the battle – how long can the #apartheid state of #Israel last?”

Paul Charney, Zionist Federation Chairman, accused Mr Ward of “anti-Israel rhetoric”.

He said: “I applaud Lib Dem Chief Whip Alistair Carmichael MP and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg MP for taking this necessary action.”

Mr Ward has insisted he has done nothing wrong, and said the party had interpreted “what I possibly meant – rather than what I actually said”.