Angus Robertson, the leader of the Scottish National Party, said he shared Arkush's concerns, and that there was "no excuse" for Livingstone's remarks.

Robertson, who defended his party's spotlighting of Palestinian rights in parliament to the inquiry, said the used of words like "Zionists and Zionism" are sometimes used as a code for "Jews."

"We should be very careful about how that kind of language is used," he said, adding that if Livingstone were a member of his own party, he would have sought his dismissal.

"I am a strong critic of the government of Israel," Robertson said. "I am very concerned about the treatment of Palestinians and would wish there to be a two-state solution."

Robertson went on to express concern that criticizing Israel breeds anti-Semitism, where, he said people "start using language and imagery which we know from history has been used before, to cast that back to all Jews in Israel."

Tropes such as "Jewish ownership of press or the financial system to influence public opinion — that is anti-Semitism," Robertson added.

TOI