This is getting very messy for David Ward. The LibDem MP has now been summoned to a meeting with party whips on Monday. Tory MP Rob Halfon has slammed his comments, telling Guido:

“I am greatly saddened that in the week of Holocaust remembrance, David has seemingly compared the gas chambers of the Nazi regime to the West Bank. This is the tragic trivialisation of real evil. It should be remembered that Israel withdrew from Gaza completely, and yet has faced a barrage of 7000+ missiles from Hamas and been the victim of hundreds of terrorist suicide bombers, and been attacked by all it’s neighbours in 1948, 1967, and 1973. I hope that David will reconsider these remarks, when he remembers that 6 million Jews lost their lives under Adolf Hitler.”

The Holocaust Educational Trust are even more damning, accusing Ward of “abusing the memory” of Holocaust victims with his “sickening” comments. Monday could be very difficult for him…

UPDATE: It is all kicking off now. Ward isn’t backing down, telling 5Live he won’t be “stifled”. “If the party has a different view that’s for the party to decide”. Apparently the party’s response is “regrettable” and he hopes he won’t have the whip withdrawn. That meeting with the whips just got all the more interesting…

UPDATE II:

Lib Dem spokesman tells Guido "there will be consequences" for David Ward, but will not speculate on what happens if no apology.

— Guido Fawkes (@GuidoFawkes) January 25, 2013