Prominent British-Jewish actress Miriam Margolyes has branded Israel "stupid" for "allowing people" to be anti-Semitic, by conducting its recent 50-day military campaign against Gaza-based terrorists.

The actress, who plays Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter movies, told Radio Times: "I loathe Hamas, but they were democratically elected and Israel’s behavior is not acceptable. There’s been a troubling backlash."

But the 73-year-old appeared to undermine her own argument during the same interview, admitting that anti-Semitism exists independent of any actions by the Jewish state.

"I don’t think people like Jews. They never have," she said. "English literature, my great love, is full of greasy and treacherous Jews.

"I’m lucky they like me, and one always needs a Jewish accountant. Anti-Semitism is horrible and can’t be defended, but Israel is stupid for allowing people to vent it."

Operation Protective Edge did indeed result in a massive spike in anti-Semitism worldwide, and in Europe in particular. Near-daily reports of violent attacks against Jews or Jewish establishments, and open anti-Semitic incitement, left many European Jews concerned about the very future of their communities.

But attempts to deflect some of the criticism away from the perpetrators and towards the Jewish state for "encouraging" anti-Semitism through its actions have been angrily dismissed by Jewish and anti-hate groups, who point out that it is essentially an exercise in blaming the victim.

"That Miriam Margolyes justifies anti-Semitism because of Israel's actions reminds most decent-thinking people of those who claim rape victims who wear short skirts share some of the blame. Both are offensive and wrong," said Sam Westrop, director of counter-extremist group Stand for Peace.



"But what can one expect of an actress who think Hamas is a democratic government? Most democracies do not throw their political opponents off rooftops or use children as human shields."