Nicolas Sarkozy gave an emotional speech in defence of France’s Jewish community at a dinner in London on Sunday night.

The former French president and current leader of the Republican party told the guests: “It is unacceptable that 70 years after the end of the Holocaust, French Jews are afraid.”

Mr Sarkozy, who had been invited to London by the Conference of European Rabbis to accept an award for his contribution to European Jewry, said: “We did not fight the Nazis to force the Jews to run to Israel 70 years later.”

The CER awarded Mr Sarkozy the Rabbi Moshe Rosen prize in memory of the former chief rabbi of Romania who battled for many years to defend his community under Communism.

Guests at the dinner included French Ambassador to London Sylvie Bermann and Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis.

Russia billionaire businessman Mikhail Fridman hosted the evening, along with a new director of the CER, Marc Meyer.

Reflecting on the award for Mr Sarkozy, CER president Rabbi Pinchas Goldschmidt said: “President Sarkozy is a deserving recipient of this award. France is the main battleground between hope and fear for the future of Europe, especially for the Jewish community.

"President Sarkozy is at the forefront of that battle and his support is crucial for the future of our communities.”