A Jewish group has applauded media mogul Rupert Murdoch for removing the "destructive" presenter Glenn Beck from a daily Fox News slot.

It was announced on Wednesday that the right wing pundit would shortly "transition off his daily programme". Mr Beck is to remain involved in other "television projects for air on the Fox News Channel".

The move followed months of controversy during which Mr Beck attacked George Soros' Holocaust record and, in front of a star of David symbol, accused the Jewish financier of being a "puppet master…at the centre" of the economic crisis". He also recently compared Reform Judaism to radicalised Islam.

American organisation Jewish Funds for Justice (JFSJ), which launched a campaign urging Mr Murdoch to fire Mr Beck, praised Fox News for taking responsibility "and for finally ridding themselves of his hate speech".

The JFSJ president, Simon Greer, said: "Fox News is dumping Glenn Beck because he has been rejected by Jews, by Christians and people of conscience from across the political spectrum."

He added: "Beck's conspiracy theories…often involve personal attacks on Jews and on faiths that pursue social justice.

"Today, we feel like our voices have been heard."