Why this MP thinks Israel 'needs Kassam attacks'

“The experience has given me some idea of how people feel when they come under rocket attack.

“I now know the moment of horror when you hear that sound and the emotion that that brings,” Mr Levitt said. “But there is a great deal of difference between the pathetic and amateur way in which certain individuals lob Kassams over the border into Israel, and the ruthless disregard for human life in how Israel retaliates.

“I got the impression that Israel needs these mortar bombs to fall on it, in order to be able to retaliate.”

He said that if Israel spent “a fraction of the money” currently being spent on the border crossing, on humanitarian issues instead, “there would not be the level of conflict that there is now”.

A spokesperson for the Israel Embassy in London said: “It is unfortunate that members of Parliament engage in vilifying Israel instead of persuading the Palestinians to cease launching Kassam rockets at Israeli civilians, one of which even almost hit them during their visit to Israel.”