Sadiq Khan today ordered the removal of 'offensive' posters that condemn the state of Israel as a 'racist endeavour'.

The London Mayor hit out at 'vandalism' after the images started appearing on bus stops around the capital.

The posters sprung up as Jewish groups warned that anti-Semitism was on the rise amid a major battle inside the Labour.

Among the key issues in the dispute between the party's left-wingers led by Jeremy Corbyn and moderates has been whether it is acceptable to brand the state of Israel racist.

The internationally-recognised definition of anti-Semitism that was finally adopted by Labour last night after months of wrangling makes clear that it is not acceptable.

The posters were spotted by a number of Twitter users, who expressed disgust at the slogans

The posters were spotted by a number of Twitter users, who expressed disgust at the slogans.

A spokesman for the Mayor of London said: “These offensive adverts are not authorised and are acts of vandalism which Transport for London and its advertising partner takes extremely seriously.

'They have instructed their contractors to remove any posters found on their network immediately.”

The latest episode comes as a new Survation poll published in the Jewish Chronicle reveals that four out of ten Jews would consider leaving the UK if Mr Corbyn becomes PM.

The Labour leader last night failed to quell anger over vile abuse wracking Labour despite bowing to demands to adopt the international definition of anti-Semitism.

He caused new offence by trying to add a statement detailing protection for people who call Israel racist - a caveat rejected even by loyalists on the party's ruling NEC.

Dave Rich, the head of policy at the Community Security Trust (CST), said anti-Semitic incidents soared from a few dozen a month to over 100 in spring 2016 - Just when the crisis erupted in Jeremy Corbyn's party.

Speaking to the women and equalities select committee today, Mr Rich said: 'Over the last two years we have seen a much closer correlation between events in the Labour Party and our anti-Semitic incidents statistics than any other single factor.'

Other images on Twitter appeared to celebrate the spread of the posters, which Sadiq Khan has vowed to remove

Dave Rich, the head of policy at the Community Security Trust (CST) (pictured today in parliament in front of the women and equalities select committee) said incidents soared from a few dozen a month to over 100 in spring 2016 - Just when the crisis erupted in Jeremy Corbyn's party

Detailing anti-Semitism incidents reported to the CST, he said: 'We recorded 129 incidents in June and 129 in July, but we had recorded 135 in May the month prior and 100 incidents in April.

'The big uptick in anti-Semitism incidents we recorded came in April and May. Now around that time came the whole issue about anti-Semitism in the Labour Party really hit the front-pages with the suspensions of Naz Shah and Ken Livingstone.

Jewish couple are packing their bags for Israel over the anti-Semitism crisis A leading Jewish lawyer and his partner have said they are leaving the UK after being bombarded by anti-Semitic abuse and death threats by Jeremy Corbyn supporters. Mark Lewis, an ex Labour supporter who represented victims in the phone-hacking case, and Mandy Blumenthal said they are planning to move to Israel by the end of the year. They accused Mr Corbyn of moving the 'rock anti-Semites have crawled out from' and said they have received a growing wave of hate and threats since he became Labour leader. Mr Lewis said a man has been sent to prison for threatening to kill him simply because he is Jewish. He told the BBC's Victoria Derbyshire Show: 'The online abuse might continue, the Israelis might not like me because I am too left, might not like me because they think I am too right, whatever their view. 'But they are not going to dislike me because I am Jewish. And there is only so much you can take – when you are getting threats to kill you. 'When you are getting threats from people that they want you to be ill etc, it's a drip drip effect.' Ms Blumenthal said: 'People are – in the majority of circles that I mix in – actually talking about their options of leaving here because of the anti-Semitism.' Advertisement

'So we took that increase to be in response to those incidents that were happening here in the Labour Party.

'It may be the debate around Brexit and increase in hate crime after that debate kept the anti-Semitic incidents sustained at a higher level, and maybe they would have fallen away had it not been for that, but we had already seen an uptick before other hate crime….

'Over the last two years we have seen a much closer correlation between events in the Labour Party and our anti-Semitic incidents statistics than any other single factor.'

Mr Rich said that while he is not suggesting everyone committing the hate crimes are in the Labour Party, he warned the scandal is feeding a toxic atmosphere.

And he urged Mr Corbyn to listen to the Jewish community and make the reforms needed to root out the abuse.

He said this must be seen as more than mere 'technical' changes, but 'a cultural change as well'.

At least half a dozen Labour MPs are considering following Frank Field and quitting over the scandal.

Meanwhile, a poll today found that 39 per cent of the 710 British Jews who were quizzed for the survey said they would consider emigrating if Mr Corbyn gets the keys to No10.

Last month Mark Lewis, an ex Labour supporter and leading Jewish lawyer,, and his partner Mandy Blumenthal revealed they are leaving Britain for Israel because of the scandal.

They accused Mr Corbyn of moving the 'rock anti-Semites have crawled out from' and said they have received a growing wave of hate and threats since he became Labour leader.

He told MailOnline today: 'Waiting to see if Corbyn will become PM is already too late. The damage has already been done.

'He has moved the rock which was covering many very nasty creatures.

Jeremy Corbyn (pictured leaving home this morning) has been dogged by accusations that he has allowed anti-Semitism to go unchallenged in the party since he became leader

'Even after the reluctant acceptance of the IHRA definition of antisemitism (and its caveat that renders it meaningless) Corbyn made sure that his personal proposal was leaked so that his nasty gang knew that he was still with them.

'Of course it is an individual decision but for those who will listen, I say get out while you can.'