UK lawmaker unrepentant about Shoah remarks

British lawmaker David Ward, a member of the governing Liberal Democrats, has reiterated that it was "important to ask" whether Israel's behavior toward the Palestinians was determined by the experience of the Holocaust. Asked on Twitter whether he thought "agents of the Israeli state are doing such things because of the Holocaust?" the parliamentarian said he did not know, but added: "But it is important to ask the question and we cannot allow the horror of the Holocaust to stop us asking."

Earlier this year, Ward was disciplined by the leadership of party for accusing "the Jews" of failing to learn the lessons of the Holocaust, in a statement released as he signed the Book of Remembrance recalling those murdered by the Nazis. Last week, it emerged that he had subsequently questioned whether it would be acceptable for him to replace the phrase "the Jews" with "the Jewish community".

Ward was summoned Friday for a new showdown with party bosses. The Liberal Democrats - which is a coalition with the Conservative Party of Prime Minister David Cameron - said "further decisions" would be taken about the MP after British Jewish leaders demanded action.

The Board of Deputies of British Jews said an apology given by Ward had "no credibility" as the MP had not removed the offending post from his website and in the light of his latest remarks.

Ward claimed on Twitter that he had received 5,000 emails supporting him, but just "100 (pretty vile) against". He wrote: "Let's return to basics - stop the inhumanity (both sides) in Israel."

Noam Chomsky agrees with Ward's remarks

Although he has been condemned across the board, Ward was backed this weekend by Noam Chomsky, the prominent American Jewish academic and Israel critic. Chomsky said he agreed there was "nothing remotely anti-Semitic" in Ward's remarks and added that they were "in fact familiar in Israeli discussions".

In a response on his personal website, Ward thanked Chomsky for his support: "The intention behind my comments was to start a genuine discussion about Israel's treatment of Palestinians and how the Israeli government seemingly acts with impunity for its actions in Gaza and the West Bank. I now intend to work with groups around the country to start a discussion that can take a frank look at this conflict and what we can do to bring an end to atrocities committed by both sides in this appalling and long lasting conflict."