A councillor has apologised after he endorsed violence against public figures that have criticised the Israeli government over Gaza.

Conservative Neil Cohen, of Buckhurst Hill Parish Council, ‘liked’ a comment on a friend’s public Facebook page which described the beheading of Labour leader, Ed Miliband, who has condemned the Israeli government’s bombing campaign.

Cllr Cohen’s friend, Neil Wiseman, wrote: “Ed Miliband, you're a F***ing disgrace !!! instead of being proud of your people, you've turned on them no doubt to secure the huge Muslim vote our s**t hole of a country allows.... i hope that when the jihadist vermin take over and start the slaughter, your beheading is a very long and painful one you utter, utter, utter C***.”

Mr Cohen ‘liked’ the comment and replied: “Npw (sic) u know why im a conservative councilor. ...lol”

The theme continued on July 31 when Mr Wiseman responded to comedian Russell Brand’s criticism of the coverage of the conflict by Fox News in US.

Mr Wiseman posted: “So sad to hear that Russell Brand has seemingly kicked his drug habit, shame he didn't just go a little too far sticking one of those drug laden needles into his anti-Israel, Arab sympathising F***ing junkie arms...... C*** !!!!!”

Mr Cohen replied by commenting: “Scum...

Another contributor added: I've just listened to Emily Thornberry Labour MP on LBC arguing that the Hammas terror tunnels are only used for getting food into Gaza, if there was ever a person who deserved a lethal dose of heroin...”

Cllr Cohen then added: “Lol...brand n that labour mp...utter scum...lbc are also scum...”

When questioned on the comments, Mr Cohen said: “I condemn the comments unreservedly they were irresponsible, stupid and immature.

“Neil Wiseman is a joker and I don’t take these things seriously.”

Cllr Cohen added that he would not be considering his position.

He added: “It was an oversight on my part. It was supposed to be a private conversation with a friend.