The Community Security Trust said on Thursday the surge came as figures showed a significant rise in such scuffles for the first six months of the year.

While there was no obvious reason for the general increase, it noted that July's rise took place at the same time as the Israeli offensive against Gaza, in which it has pounded the enclave from air, land and sea, killing more than 1,300 men, women and children.

On the Israeli side 53 soldiers and three civilians have been killed and several others have been injured so far.

Tens of thousands of Britons have taken part in protests in London and other cities against the Israeli action. Pro-Palestinian activist groups stress that they oppose Israeli government policy.

The Trust said there had been 304 anti-Zionist brawls between January and June, a 36 percent rise compared to the same period a year ago. Since the start of the offensive at the beginning of July, 130 anti-Zionist incidents had been recorded - the second highest month on record.

Although the overall total this year has increased, there were fewer violent assaults recorded, down 32 percent to 22, and the vast number of incidents related to verbal debate, graffiti and dispute via social media.

The number of recorded incidents had been falling in recent years from a high in 2009, also sparked by conflict between Israel and Gaza, when politicians said that British Zionists faced a growing criticism.

The Archbishop of Canterbury, spiritual head of the world's 80 million Anglicans, voiced unease at the impact of the conflict in Gaza.

NTJ/NJF