A Russian-born Israeli Jew has sparked outrage on social media after sharing photos of himself displaying Hebrew words at Muslim holy sites across the world.

Ben Tzion, 31, has visited mosques in Iran, Lebanon, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, where he snapped photos at Mosque of the Prophet in Medina - Islam's second-holiest site.

Despite the backlash over his visits, Tzion claims he travels to holy sites out of 'respect' and 'love toward people'.

Non-Muslims are prohibited from visiting Mecca and advised to avoid other parts of central Medina, where Mosque of the Prophet is located, but Tzion said that the sites he visited were open to the public.

Russian-born Jew Ben Tzion, 31, has visited mosques in Iran, Lebanon, Jordan and Saudi Arabia, where he snapped photos at Mosque of the Prophet in Medina (pictured)

In one photo on Instagram where he posed alongside two men in Saudi Arabia while holding a sword, Tzion wrote the caption,' #SaudiArabia is with #Jewish #People and Land of #Israel side by side to share #Friendship and #Peace in the #MiddleEast #Region among #Nation'

The blogger said that traveling to Muslim holy sites is simply a hobby and he has respect for Islam and the Arab world. He's pictured above at Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem

The blogger said that traveling to Muslim holy sites is simply a hobby and he has respect for Islam and the Arab world.

On one Instagram post he wrote: 'Praying for #Peace! Side by side with my #Arab Brothers. For Peace in the entire #MiddleEast region for all #People.

'For Peace among #Jews, #Muslim, #Christians, #Copts, #Druze, #Bedouins and for every descendant of Abraham know as Ibrahim. #Salam and #Shalom.'

In one photo, Tzion, carries a satchel adorned with Hebrew writing, which carries tefillin, or boxes of Torah scrolls that observant Jews wrap around their heads and arms when praying.

His posts have caused mass discussion on Twitter, with the hashtag 'A Zionist at the Prophet's Mosque' garnering more than 100,000 tweets.

'In the era of Al Saud [the Saudi royal family], the occupying Zionists, the enemies of Islam and Muslims… defile the mosque of the seal of the Prophet,' one user said.

Another Twitter user said: 'The current hashtag: A Zionist at the Prophet's Mosque; the next hashtag: A Zionist on the pulpit of the Prophet's Mosque; and the following hashtag: A Zionist is the imam of the Mecca Mosque.'

His posts have caused mass discussion on Twitter, with the hashtag 'A Zionist at the Prophet's Mosque' garnering more than 100,000 tweets. Tzion is pictured above left at the Four Seasons Hotel in Riyadh last week

While on a recent trip to Saudi Arabia, Tzion also met Germany's ambassador to the country Dieter Walter Haller (right)

Tzion, pictured right with a friend in Medina, said he used a valid passport and necessary visas to enter the holy sites legally, though would not specify which passport he used to travel

The huge number of angry comments has caused Instagram to suspend Tzion's account, where he writes messages of peace and tolerance, more than once.

While his posts have garnered hundreds of angry messages from social media users, Tzion said that people at the holy sites warmly embraced him.

ISRAELI PASSPORTS ARE BANNED FROM 16 COUNTRIES Sixteen countries do not accept Israeli passports. Those banning Israeli passports are Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emerates and Yemen. Additionally, Iran, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen do not allow entry to people who have traveled to or from Israel, or those who have passports with used or unused Israeli visas. Under Israeli law, Iran, Pakistan, Iraq, Libya, Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, Syria and Yemen are designated 'enemy states' and Israeli citizens can only visit with special permits from the Israeli Interior Ministry. The law does not apply to people who have dual nationality. Advertisement

'No one in the Arab world ever approached me with hostility,' Tzion told The Times of Israel.

He added: 'People know that I am different, they see that I wear a kippah or a different Arab garment. They come to me and ask me where I'm from. I tell them that I'm from Jerusalem, Israel. And their first reaction usually is: "Wow. Welcome".'

The Russian-born Jew acquired Israeli citizenship in 2014 when he decided to move to the country.

He said he used a valid passport and necessary visas to enter the holy sites legally, though would not specify which passport he used to travel.

In Saudi Arabia, Israelis are banned from visiting the country, and any evidence of travel to and from the country will result in a refusal of entry.

In total, 16 countries - including Iran, Syria, Iraq and Saudi Arabia - do not accept Israeli passports.

Eight of the countries also ban entry to people with evidence of travel to Israel or whose passports have used or unused Israeli visas.

Tzion said that he never tries to 'create any issues in any country' and that he travels as a 'private individual'.

'When I am going to a holy site, I go there with respect, with dignity and love toward people,' he told The Times of Israel. 'Not with hatred or mockery or trying to be, in any way, shape, or form, disrespectful. This would be the last of my intentions. I go there as a friend.'

Tzion was born in Rostov-on-Don, Russia, where he lived until he was 19 years old.

Tzion (center) said that he never tries to 'create any issues in any country' and that he travels as a 'private individual'

The Russian-born Jew acquired Israeli citizenship in 2014 when he decided to move to the country

He then studied entrepreneurship at Babson College, outside Boston, before making his way to Israel.

The photos come after Israeli army's chief of staff told an Arabic language online newspaper that Israel was ready to share 'intelligence information' with Saudi Arabia, saying their countries had a common interest in standing up to Iran.

Lieutenant General Gadi Eizenkot told the privately Saudi-owned Elaph in what it said was his first interview with an Arabic newspaper that Israel had no plans to attack Lebanon's Hezbollah group.

Saudi Arabia has ratcheted up pressure on arch-foe Iran, accusing Tehran of trying to expand its influence in Arab countries, often through proxies including the Lebanese Shi'ite Hezbollah group.

Increased tension between Tehran and Riyadh has fuelled speculation that shared interests may push Saudi Arabia and Israel to working together against what they see as a common Iranian threat.

Saudi Arabia maintains that any relations with Israel hinge on Israeli withdrawal from Arab lands occupied in the 1967 Middle East war.