A pro-Israel activist who was left with bite marks on his cheek at the School of Oriental and African Studies has launched a legal campaign after he was charged with the same offence as his attacker.

The man required medical treatment after the attack at an Israel Apartheid Week event in March.

His attacker was charged with common assault, but he was charged with the same offence.

He expressed shock at having been charged for defending himself from "a violent unprovoked biting attack". He said he was seeking "moral support leading up to and during the case" from the community, as well as financial assistance to cover legal representation for the case.

"For one reason or another, which we hope to expose, a false case has been brought against me," he said.

Gili Brenner, who was at the protest, said at the time she felt victimised as if she were "a Jew in Nazi Germany".