"It is unfortunate that the New York consulate thinks that Israel's relevance will be expressed by the use of naked women who are treated as an object, and not as women of substance who exude achievement and success," she said.

Colette Avital, of the Labour party, described the article as a "pornographic campaign to encourage tourism".

It is not the first time that Israel has used sex to sell itself. The Israeli ministry of tourism has an advertising contract with Arsenal FC to promote Israel which features women in swimsuits.

Israel is keen to sell itself as a western country with beaches and nightclubs rather than a country full of religious zealots