A Jewish group has called on Labour to investigate Jeremy Corbyn’s conduct during yesterday’s launch of the report into antisemitism in the party.

Solicitors acting for Jewish Human Rights Watch wrote to Labour’s central office objecting to the party leader’s remark in which he compared Israel to hard-line Islamic states.

In a speech at the press conference unveiling the report, compiled by Shami Chakarbarti, Mr Corbyn said: “Our Jewish friends are no more responsible for the actions of Israel or the Netanyahu government than our Muslim friends are for the self-styled Islamic states or organisations”.

JHRW said the remark was “demonising and delegitimising” of Israel “in a way wholly consistent with modern antisemitism”.

The fact that he chose to make the remark on the release of the report, “serves only to underscore the reality that Mr Corbyn has no interest in fighting antisemitism whatsoever”, JHRW said.

JHRW also complained that Mr Corbyn had failed to act when a Jewish Labour MP fled the conference in tears after being verbally attacked by a hard-left activist.

Ruth Smeeth became upset after she was accused of colluding with the Daily Telegraph.

Robert Festenstein, of RHF solicitors based in Manchester, wrote the letter on behalf of JHRW.

The solicitor, a member of the Labour Party himself, said: “I was appalled that not only did Jeremy Corbyn fail to respond to what happened to Ruth Smeeth, Chakrabarti failed to respond to the harassment of a Labour MP as it happened in front of her.

“She said she wanted the Labour Party to be a place where everyone was welcome, but in light of the evidence it is something to the contrary.”