The Board of Deputies has suspended the deputy for Southend and Westcliff Hebrew Congregation, Peter Baum, for two years after upholding two complaints about his social media activity.

Although the Board has not disclosed the content of remarks it judged unacceptable, posting on Facebook, Mr Baum wrote it was for “tweeting that the Palestinians are Nazis and calling Desmond Tutu a true black coward”.

He said that the Hamas Charter called for “the elimination of the Jewish State, extermination of Jews and Zionists and subservience to Islam”.

Desmond Tutu had been silent on issues including the “ethnic cleansing of Zimbabweans from South Africa”.

Mr Baum added: “Apparently these tweets have brought the Board of Deputies into disrepute. The Board of Deputies is unfit for purpose.”

While the suspension will run until the end of the current triennium in May 2024, Mr Baum will be able to apply for it to be lifted after six months if he offers a “sincere apology” and shows a “meaningful change in his behaviour”.

Board president Marie van Der Zyl said that “Mr Baum’s conduct in tweeting unacceptable content is antithetical to the values and standing of the Board. The values expressed in these tweets are wholly inconsistent with his role as a deputy and undermine our work to challenge racism and antisemitism.”