Set for Bank Holiday Monday, May 6, it is being organised by the Israel Solidarity Campaign, a coalition of Jewish organisations.

While it is being funded mostly by the United Jewish Israel Appeal, a spokesperson was keen to emphasise that its success would rely on “cross-communal involvement.”

He added: “This will be the largest demonstration of its type in decades. Every section of the community will be mobilised in solidarity.”

The event was originally due to take place on April 28, but was put back to May 6 on the advice of the police.

The UJIA spokesperson said that a decision was taken to hold an outdoor public rally because this was what the community was calling for.

“People want to give a public show of support to Israel. This rally will allow for that,” he said.

The last solidarity rally, in September 2001, was held at London’s Theatre Royal. More than 3,000 attended, though many of them were not able to get inside the hall and watched the proceedings relayed on big screens.

Trevor Gee, one of the organisers of the May 6 event, said that the rally would afford an opportunity for the community publicly to show its commitment “to three things: the state of Israel, a campaign against terror and a campaign against anti-Semitism.”

He added that the march would be “totally apolitical.”

The rally’s national coordinator, Alan Fox, former chief executive of the Joint Israel Appeal, declared: “There is a need from within the Jewish community to show solidarity with Israel.

“There have been similar events in Europe and America, and this is a chance for the vibrant Anglo-Jewish community — and non-Jewish community — to express their support for the Israeli people and for Israel.”

Mr Fox said he was expecting at least 40,000, some of whom would be travelling from as far as Glasgow. He said “at least 50 buses” had already been booked from Manchester and nearby Jewish communities.

“This is not a political or religious rally. We are saying we care about the people of Israel and the appalling tragedies which they have suffered.”

Mr Fox said the organisers had been been “overwhelmed with offers of support from the community,” and from a large number of non-Jews who had learned of the initiative.