The BBC has defended a tweet sent by Jeremy Bowen during Binyamin Netanyahu’s speech to the US Congress on Tuesday.

Mr Bowen tweeted after the Israeli prime minister mentioned Elie Wiesel, a survivor of Nazi concentration camps, who was present.

Mr Bowen wrote “once again Netanyahu plays the holocaust card”.

The broadcaster received 19 complaints, with some suggesting that the comment was antisemitic.

A BBC spokesperson said: “Jeremy was live-tweeting during PM Netanyahu's speech. The context of his comment is that a major part of PM Netanyahu's critique of the proposed Iran deal was based on the spectre of another holocaust.

“Jeremy's tweet was designed to reflect that context. He absolutely refutes any suggestion of anti-semitism.”