PARIS - An outspoken pro-Israel politician caused outrage across France on Wednesday by comparing the mutilated corpse of a Palestinian child to "halal meat".

Jacques Renaud, the right wing deputy mayor affiliated to the UMP opposition, portrayed infants being killed in the Gaza Strip to animals slaughtered according to Islamic ritual.

The 66-year-old’s comments came as thousands prepared to take to the streets of Paris in a pro-Palestine demonstration which many fear will explode into violence.

Jewish groups have accused anti-Semites of hijacking the rallies, while thousands of Muslims taking part say they are being unfairly characterised as extremists.

They are particularly angry at the vitriol displayed by elected politicians like Mr Renaud, who is based in Montreuil-Juigne, just north of Angers.

Mr Renaud, who is also a successful businessman, wrote on Twitter: "Great support to all the attacked Jews of France, we are in the 21st Century, a bit of humanity and civility would be welcome."

A critic responded by tweeting a picture of a decapitated child, referring to the barbarity of the Israeli army which has killed more than 200 children during its assault on Gaza.

In response to the horrifying image Mr Renaud replied: ‘It’s halal meat, I suppose.’

Halal is Arabic for permissible, and refers to food which adheres to Islamic law, as defined in the Koran.

It is a big issue in France, where the five million plus strong Muslim community regularly complains about government attempts to outlaw it.

Mr Renaud is a firm supporter of Israel who regularly takes to Twitter to attack Hamas, the ruling authority in Gaza.

Stephane Piednoir, the UMP mayor of Montreuil-Juigne was on holiday so not able to respond to his assistant’s words, but a spokesman said there would be ‘grave consequences’ if the comments turned out to be true. Mr Renaud was not available for comment.

A banned pro-Palestine march ended in violence on Saturday, and on Sunday a synagogue in a northern suburb of Paris was threatened by a mob of rioters.

Despite the street violence, Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said tonight’s protest could go ahead, with security stepped up across the capital.

Mr Cazeneuve said, "I have given specific orders to security forces so they can quickly intervene if any anti-Semitic acts are committed."

Anti-Semitic chants are banned under French criminal law and – to date – there has been no evidence of any being used on the marchers.