Former Cabinet Minister Sayeeda Warsi has compared the terrorists who killed four Jews praying at synagogue in Jerusalem with the Israelis who campaign outside the Al Aqsa mosque.

In a series of tweets, she wrote: “Israeli extremists storm Al Aqsa & intimidate worshipers. Palestinian extremists storm synagogue & kill 4 worshippers.”

She added: “Both @David_Cameron & @Ed_Miliband say a Palestinian life is equal to an Israeli life so let's ALL condemn the killing on BOTH sides.”

The tweets were condemned by the UK-based Israel advocacy group, the Zionist Federation, and Jeremy Newmark, the former chief executive of the Jewish Leadership Council.

Baroness Warsi, the former minister for faith and communities, directly tweeted the ZF, writing: “@ZionistFed both Palestinian & Israeli lives have been lost in recent weeks at the hands of extremists, Condemn both #Peace not #Hypocrisy.”

In a tweet to Mr Newmark, she wrote: “@Jeremy_Newmark r u suggesting there is NO link (nt justification) between murders in the synagogue & the weeks of intimidation & attacks.”

Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps tweeted: "To be clear @SayeedaWarsi speaks for herself, not the party. Our prayers are with families of those murdered. No justification for terrorism."

A spokesman for the Israeli embassy said: "[Baroness] Warsi's unfortunate remarks, equating Jews visiting a holy site with terrorists murdering praying worshippers, are morally reprehensible and shameful."