POLICE have been accused of “absolutely shameful” partisanship towards zionists while tens of thousands in central London stood up to US President Donald Trump’s deranged threats to ethnically cleanse Gaza.

Officers were criticised for failing to act as half-a-dozen counter-protesters held up the huge crowds marching from Whitehall to the US embassy on Saturday.

Jewish Voice for Labour founder Mike Cushman said that the front of the march was passing by the Tate Modern when it was obstructed by zionist protesters for up to 15 minutes.

He told the Morning Star: “These people were in total breach of the conditions of the march, both for our side and equally laid down for the zionist side.

“They were allowed to stand at the end of  Vauxhall Bridge but the police were just being totally passive — they weren’t doing anything.

“Had we stood in the way of a pro-Israel march our feet wouldn’t have touched the ground.”

“I spoke directly to the inspector and said: ‘These people are in breach of the regulations today, why are you not taking any action?’

“He said, ‘we will, we will’ but they were allowed to hold up the march for 10 to 15 minutes. 

“The police did move them on eventually but compared with what police did last time to our side — we did nothing wrong and are now up in court — this is absolutely shameful.”

The Metropolitan Police said it arrested eight people on Saturday.

The arrests were public order offences, breaching conditions on the march under the Public Order Act, as well as possession of pyrotechnics, support for a proscribed organisation and criminal damage.

Mr Cushman said the police on the whole behaved much better than during the last national demonstration for Gaza.

Palestine Solidarity Campaign director Ben Jamal and chief steward for the march Chris Nineham were both arrested and charged after engaging in peaceful protest on January 18.

Mr Jamal is due to appear in court on Friday and Mr Nineham faces trial after denying two counts of breaching Public Order Act last Thursday.

A Met Police spokesperson said: “While those in the group outside the Tate Britain were counter-protesters, they were not part of Stop the Hate so were not subject to the specific conditions in place. 

“The group agreed to move to the pavement and there was a short delay of around five minutes while additional officers were brought in to ensure the main march could pass by without incident.

“Our primary objective is to keep the peace and the actions of officers on this occasion achieved that aim.”