(JTA) — David Ward, a British lawmaker who made negative generalizations about “the Jews,” has been temporarily suspended from the Liberal Democratic Party following a meeting with party leaders.

Ward in January on International Holocaust Memorial Day, said he was “saddened that the Jews, who suffered unbelievable levels of persecution during the Holocaust, could, within a few years of liberation, be inflicting atrocities on the Palestinians in the new State of Israel — and continue to do so.” The controversy was renewed when reports emerged that Ward asked his staff if replacing “the Jews” with “the Jewish community” would mollify his critics, leading to another round of complaints, and sanctions including a requirement that he attend language classes.

Ward met Wednesday with party leader Nick Clegg and the party’s chief whip Alistair Carmichael. The meeting was called in part as a response to a July 13 tweet sent by Ward which read: “Am I wrong or are am I right? At long last the #Zionists are losing the battle – how long can the #apartheid State of #Israel last?”

In a letter obtained by the BBC that was sent to Ward following the meeting, Carmichael praised Ward for his progress since February including his appreciation of “the need to use language in this debate that was proportionate and precise.”

But Charmichael added in reference to the recent tweet that: “We were in unanimous agreement that questioning the continued existence of the State of Israel fails the test of language that is ‘proportionate and precise.’”

The letter continued “We want to be clear with you that in this process we are not concerned about your views and opinions on the policies of present or previous Israeli governments, nor the situation in the Israeli-occupied territories, nor the strength of feeling with which your views are held. As we have sought to impress upon you repeatedly, we are having to decide on whether language you chose to use in January and February, and now this month, is language which brings the party into disrepute or harms the interests of the Party.”

Ward has been suspended until September 13, during which time he will serve in Parliament as an independent. There are no Parliamentary votes scheduled between now and September 13, according to reports.

Jonathan Arkush, vice president of the Board of Deputies of British Jews, responded to the suspension, saying: “We are glad that the Liberal Democrats have at last taken action to address the completely inappropriate and offensive comments that he has made.”