LONDON — Jeremy Corbyn was engulfed in a fresh row over Israel when he appeared to compare the government of Benjamin Netanyahu to Islamic extremists at the launch of an independent review into antisemitism in the Labor party.

In prepared remarks, Corbyn said: “Our Jewish friends are no more responsible for the actions of Israel or the Netanyahu government than our Muslim friends are for those of various self-styled Islamic states or organizations.”

Later, in response to a question – met with jeers from an audience with a strong pro-Corbyn presence – the Labor leader denied he had compared Israel to ISIS. However, he made a further apparent reference to violent extremists.

“The point is that you shouldn’t say to someone that just because they’re Jewish you must have an opinion on Israel, any more that you say to anyone who’s a Muslim you must have an opinion on the vile actions being taken by people misquoting the good name of Islam in what they do,” he said.

A spokesman for Corbyn later clarified that in his speech the Labor leader had been referring to states of an Islamic character, giving the examples of Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Iran or Hamas in Gaza.

“It is deeply regrettable that [Corbyn] went on to establish some sort of equivalence between Israel and terrorist groups such as ISIS. This is completely unacceptable,” Jonathan Arkush, president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews.