Ayalon: I didn't know about Kaminski row until I read it in the JC

He has also been criticised for wearing, in the past, the Chrobry Sword, a symbol of the Catholic ultra-right in Poland.

Mr Ayalon met Mr Kaminski in September in a visit organised by the Conservative Friends of Israel. The meeting has been taken as an indication the Israeli government approved of Mr Kaminski, who is known in Brussels as an Israel supporter.

Regarding Mr Kaminski’s comments on Jedwabne, Mr Ayalon said: “I don’t know if he said it or not. Any such assertion is morally reprehensible and unacceptable totally. Anyone who said it, even by mistake, should retract it, explain and apologise.

“But as a matter of practice, we shouldn’t shoot from the hip. I wouldn’t mind at all to pick up the phone and discuss this with him directly. If I hear something is not right, I will ask for a clarification or apology. Friendship is about this, sometimes there are misunderstandings.”

He added that it took “courage” for Mr Kaminski to stand up for Israel in Brussels.

Mr Ayalon’s spokesman later phoned the JC to emphasise that Mr Kaminski was “a good friend of Israel, a staunch friend of Israel, especially in the EU parliament. We understand that antisemitism needs to be fought in every arena, especially in the UK. “Kaminski is probably one of our best friends in the European Parliament.”