A Palestinian protester throws a burning tyre during a protest at the Gaza Strip’s border with Israel (Khalil Hamra/AP)

DUP MP Paul Girvan has said that Sinn Fein "need to have a conversation about anti-Semitism" after West Belfast MLA Pat Sheehan criticised a DUP delegation's visit to Israel this week.

The DUP sent a delegation including Deputy leader Nigel Dodds and North Antrim MP Ian Paisley to Israel this week to “strengthen ties between Northern Ireland and Israel”.

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The party confirmed they would be meet with Israeli politicians and representatives of the Palestinian community during their visit.

However, Sinn Fein's Sheehan said the visit gave "succour to an apartheid state guilty of massacring civilians".

Earlier this month more than 50 Palestinians were killed and thousands were injured on the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces as the new US Embassy was opened in Jerusalem and tensions have remained high in the province.

“This week, the DUP announced that they have sent a delegation to Jerusalem in order to strengthen economic and cultural ties between the North and Israel," West Belfast MLA Sheehan said.

“The visit comes in the aftermath of the Israeli massacre of over 100 civilian demonstrators and the maiming of thousands more.

“It is War Crimes inspectors who should be visiting Palestine, not self-styled DUP delegations that only provide succour to an apartheid state."

Mr Sheehan said it was not the time for the DUP to be making such a trip.

“This is a time when the international community should be standing up to the Israeli state for the indiscriminate slaughter and the ongoing discrimination of Palestinians, not a time for seeking stronger ties with the state. By doing so, the DUP disregard Israel’s consistent refusal to abide by international law and UN resolutions," he said.

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“This is wrong and Sinn Fein again reiterate our support for the BDS and offer our strong solidarity to the people of Palestine.”

However Mr Girvan rejected the criticism from Sinn Fein, and noted a recent trip to Palestine by Sinn Fein National Chairperson Declan Kearney.

"Sinn Fein's have been quick to comment on this visit yet remain silent about their national Chairman Declan Kearney's presence for an anti-Semitic speech delivered by Palestinian President Mahmood Abbas," the South Antrim MP said.

"Sinn Fein need to have an uncomfortable conversation about the issue of anti-Semitism. It speaks volumes that they appear to have had no issue with attending an event where such outrageous views were aired."

During Mr Kearney's visit to Palestine he attended a meeting of the Palestinian Liberation Organisation (PLO) parliament in Ramallah which was addressed by President Abbas.

During his speech Mr Abbas said treatment of European Jews "was not because of their religious identity but because of their social function" and that his views were based on texts from "Jewish Zionist authors".

"So the Jewish question that was widespread throughout Europe was not against their religion but against their social function which relates to usury and banking and such," he said.

The Belfast Telegraph has contacted Sinn Fein for a response to Mr Girvan's comments.

Belfast Telegraph