LOCAL MP Ivan Lewis has called on MPs and others not to whip up violence between Muslims and Jews in Britain on the back of new clashes in Palestine.

The Bury South Labour backbencher spoke of his "great sense of sadness" at the new fighting between Israeli soldiers and Palestinians on the West Bank and in Gaza.

He told the debate on the Middle East that he and other friends of Israel remained "totally committed to the concept of a just and lasting peace" in the area.

Mr Lewis continued in the House of Commons second Westminster Hall chamber: "I also speak as someone who is proud of having a multi-faith constituency, in which Jews, Christians and Muslims live alongside one another, in an atmosphere of neutral respect, friendship, and tolerance.

"I hope that every responsible MP will join me in condemning those who would use this delicate situation in the Middle East to whip up tensions between Muslims and Jews in Britain.

"Recent increases in anti-Semitic attacks do not reflect the mainstream views of Muslim people in this country. They are the actions of a fundamentalist few."

He appealed for the media and MPs to view the situation objectively and with balance, and to reflect on the great progress towards peace that had been made before the latest violence broke out.