Political protests about Israel put Jewish people in Sussex in fear for their own safety, a religious leader has claimed.

Rabbi Hershel Radar, of the Brighton and Hove Hebrew Congregation synagogue in New Church Road, Hove, said protests including those of Brighton campaign group Smash EDO add to concerns felt by Jewish people in the city.

His comments followed a political row over claims that the group was anti-semitic, which it denies.

He said: “We know from experience that people can take out their feelings against Israel on the local Jewish community.

“We have to be concerned, we can’t take anything for granted.”

He said that international events, including attacks on Jewish communities in France and Belgium in recent years, add to concerns.

But Jewish political activist Tony Greenstein, of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign, said opposition to the actions of Israel was not the same as being anti-Jew.

He said: “A number of Jewish people have been associated with Smash EDO, including myself.

“Many Jews are opposed to Israel and what it does in Palestine, for the same reason they are opposed to anti-semitism.”

At protests over the Jubilee bank holiday in June, many Smash EDO supporters were also present at an anti-fascist counter-demonstration again-st a visit to the city by supporters of the nationalist English Defence League.

The Argus contacted Rabbi Radar following a row between Smash EDO – which campaigns against the supply of weapons components to Israel because of its military action in Palestine – and the Brighton and Hove Conservatives, chaired by city councillor Graham Cox.

Conservative activists have posted a series of messages on social networking website Twitter in recent weeks accusing Smash EDO of being “anti-Jew”.

After anarchist newsletter SchNews published an article accusing them of a smear campaign, Coun Cox published an open response on the party’s website, saying the campaigners ignored the policies of other regimes, while highlighting those of Israel.