David Baddiel and Board of Deputies chief in angry Twitter storm over Israel

Jewish comedian David Baddiel and the head of the representative body for British Jewry have become embroiled in a heated public argument on social media, after the former used the F-word in relation to   Israel.

Jonathan Arkush, president of the Board of Deputies, took exception to one of Baddiel’s comments on Twitter, itself a response to comments by Piers Morgan, the former editor of tabloids such as News of the World and Daily Mirror.

Morgan angered Baddiel by describing the Holocaust as “not just about the Jews,” and after Morgan posted about Donald Trump’s support for Israel, Baddiel tweeted: “I don’t give a f*** about f***ing Israel. I give a f*** about Holocaust denial.”

At which point Arkush got involved, tweeting that Baddiel’s F-word comment on Israel was “totally racist and beneath contempt,” and asking Baddiel for an explanation.

Baddiel tweeted: “I don’t give a f*** about f***ing Israel. I give a f*** about Holocaust denial.”

Baddiel offered to do so in a direct message to Arkush, to explain the context, at which point Arkush replied: “No context justifies ‘f***ing Israel.’ Damning an entire country is racist. Period.”

Baddiel responded: “Please don’t use period, unless you want to sound like @SeanSpicer,” in reference to Donald Trump’s press spokesman.

The unusual public bust-up garnered dozens of comments, as the debate opened up as to why Baddiel’s lack of concern for Israel meant that he was racist.