Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has rejected accusations that the government played a role in emboldening the Manchester synagogue terrorist with its approach to Palestine. Last night former Labour MP Lord Walney accused the government of being “complicit” in the “demonisation” of Israel.

He warned: “Significant parts of our public life and media outlets have fuelled an obsessive focus on Israel which has effectively demonised the country. We are engulfed in a debate which suggests that Israel is uniquely evil, motivated by a sense of malice, and the UK government has been complicit in that”.

When asked about claims that the government’s recognition of a Palestinian state may have embolden British antisemites, Ms Mahmood insisted the “only person responsible for this devastating attack on our Jewish community is the attacker himself”.

She told Times Radio: “The police have made three additional arrests and it’s important that they are allowed to continue with their investigations and our process of justice is allowed to take its course. That is separate to what is happening in the Middle East.

“The work of this government since the day we were elected has been to put our shoulder to the wheel in the diplomatic efforts, the difficult and delicate conversations that are designed to try and bring an end to that devastating war.

“Far too many lives have been lost. We want to see a secure and safe state of Israel alongside a state of Palestine. That we believe is the solution to that crisis, to that war that can maintain the security of all of the peoples of that land.

“But that is a different point to us here making sure we’re doing everything we can to secure the safety and security of our Jewish community and to ensure that Jewish life in this country can continue to flourish.”

Last night the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch called for the language around Israel to be dialled down in an effort to reduce hatred against the Jewish community.

Ms Badenoch said Jews now face a “climate of fear and aggression” after years of protests in which the hard left demand a “global intifada”.

Israel’s foreign minister Gideon Sa’ar accused the UK government of failing to curb “rampant antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement in Britain”.

“My deepest condolences go to the families who have lost their loved ones, and I wish a swift and full recovery to the injured. I stand with the wonderful Jewish community of Britain, which is currently suffering from a horrific wave of antisemitism.

“The truth must be told: blatant and rampant antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement, as well as calls of support for terror, have recently become a widespread phenomenon in the streets of London, in cities across Britain, and on its campuses.

“The authorities in Britain have failed to take the necessary action to curb this toxic wave of antisemitism and have effectively allowed it to persist.

“We expect more than words from the Starmer government. We expect and demand a change of course, effective action, and enforcement against the rampant antisemitic and anti-Israeli incitement in Britain.”