Arkush statement attacked

past eight years”. However, the coalition had been lukewarm in its support for Mr Trump and campaign donations had been slow.

One prominent board member — Ari Fleischer, White House press secretary under George W Bush — publicly disavowed Mr Trump close to polling day, claiming he had “lost control of himself and his message”.

David Peyman, Mr Trump’s head of Jewish outreach, told the newspaper: “All I saw across America was fantastic support, support from pro-Israel voters[and]supportfromtheAmerican Jewish community.”

He pledged that the President-elect would be Israel’s “greatest friend” but refused to answer claims of antisemitism during his campaign, dismissing such concerns as “negativity”.

The UK row followed congratulations offered by Board of Deputies President Jonathan Arkush.

He said: “I would like to congratulate Donald Trump on his victory. After a divisive campaign, I hope Mr Trump will move to build bridges and ensure that America’s standing as a beacon of progress, tolerance and free-thinking remains strong.”

Among a wave of negative responses on social media, Ivor Caplin, the former Labour MP and defence minister, said: “Arkush should have kept quiet but he seeks publicity instead of reflecting concerns of Jews.”

Some Board members, including Amos Schonfeld, Liron Velleman, Ella Rose and Ben Lewis, as well as members of the Jewish Labour Movement and youthgroupsincludingHabonim-Dror, RSY-Netzer and Noam voiced similar sentiments.

Tal Ofer, who is on the Board’s executive committee and defence division, tweeted: “I don’t think it’s @BoardofDeputies job to congratulate Donald Trump on his election, and I’m sure the Jewish community will agree with me”.