The decision to cancel the diplomatic ceremony was made after a meeting of EU ambassadors to Israel. Israeli media report that only Hungary and Poland, two conservative, pro-Israel countries, dissented.

In its short statement, the EU delegation to Israel said it would continue to celebrate Europe Day on Tuesday, as it does annually.

It said that a cultural event for the general public scheduled to take place in Tel Aviv would go ahead "to celebrate with our friends and partners in Israel the strong and constructive bilateral relationship".

The response from Mr Ben-Gvir's office criticised the EU, saying it was "a shame" that the international body "which claims to represent the values of democracy and multiculturalism, practises undiplomatic gagging."

Since Israel swore in its most hard-line government ever at the end of last year, official representatives of many European countries - which have strong relations with Israel - have refused to meet Mr Ben-Gvir and his fellow ultranationalist, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich.

The controversy around Europe Day has been a source of diplomatic embarrassment.

Adding to the sensitive timing, the EU harshly condemned Israel's demolition on Sunday of an EU-funded elementary school for Palestinian children near Bethlehem in the occupied West Bank.

The Israeli military said the structure - in part of the West Bank under full Israeli control - was built illegally and was unsafe, leading to an Israeli court decision to demolish it.

On its Twitter account, the EU delegation to the Palestinians said it was "appalled" by the action, which it said would affect 60 children, and that the demolition was illegal under international law.