After all, we had stopped the blood libel from becoming excessively murderous.

Israeli foreign minister Mr Benjamin Netanyahu likened the decision to a " blood libel".

She caused controversy last month with comments about a media " blood libel" against her after the Arizona shootings.

Sarah Palin's use of the phrase " blood libel" could scarcely be more incendiary, especially in a religious country like the US.

Hatred of the Jewish people has persisted in European societies for two millennia, manifesting itself in blood libel, persecution, expulsions, pogroms and massacres.