British Ambassador to Israel, Matthew Gould, hosted Israel's Olympic and Paralympic delegations at his residence on Monday for a festive reception, in the presence of Sports Minister Limor Livnat.

Among the Israeli athletes who came to celebrate the kick-off to London 2012 were world windsurfing champions, Lee Kurzitz and Nimrod Mashiah, Israel's synchronised swimming team, and paralympic athl

The British ambassador to Israel has promised Israeli athletes "a proper British send off" before the London Olympics this summer.

Matthew Gould, speaking to Israel's Olympic hopefuls at the Dead Sea on Wednesday, said he was looking ahead to "the start of the greatest show on Earth".

The Labour MP Paul Flynn has apologised for questioning the loyalty of the British ambassador to Israel because he is Jewish.

Mr Flynn said: "Clumsily expressed remarks of mine have caused anger and upset.

The Labour MP at the centre of a storm over his suggestion that the British ambassador to Israel could be disloyal because he is Jewish has complained that he has been treated unfairly.

Paul Flynn, who represents the Newport West constituency, said that because Matthew Gould has "proclaimed himself to be a Zionist" he is not a suitable person for the role.

A Labour MP has called for "a debate on antisemitism" following another MP's remarks suggesting that the British ambassador to Israel has divided loyalties because he is Jewish.

Denis MacShane, the MP for Rotherham and the author of the book Globalising Hatred. The New Antisemitism, raised the issue during business questions in the House of Commons today.

The Labour MP who suggested Matthew Gould was an inappropriate British ambassador to Israel, because he was Jewish, should start preparing for his "retirement", said the chair of the All-party Parliamentary Group Against Antisemitism.