LONDON –

David Cameron, leader of the UK Conservative party, backed Israel’s struggle against those who do not acknowledge its right to exist Tuesday afternoon. Cameron spoke of his support at a luncheon organized by Israel supporters within the conservative party.

“If what you mean by Zionist, someone who believes that the Jews have a right to a homeland in Israel and a right to their country then yes, I am a Zionist,” Cameron said.

“The West has to understand that there isn’t an equivalence between a democratically elected Government of Israel, a state of Israel that is a democracy, that’s a member of the United Nations, that has a totally legitimate right to exist and defend itself – there is no equivalence between that and a group like Hamas,” he added.

Cameron said that his visit to Israel in February left a deep impression on him, but admitted that he had mixed feelings regarding the peace process.

He said he was disappointed by the situation created by Hamas. However, despite his awareness of the difficulties caused by the separation fence, he believed it was justified, and that it has already brought about change.

He also said less popular things as a “friend of Israel”. For example, he said that Israel should refrain from establishing more settlements that would make it harder to reach a two state solution, which thought the best solution for the region.

According to Cameron, British Prime Minister Tony Blair was “right in that he sees with absolute clarity that point that Israel is a democracy and that Israel is a country that has a right to its own legitimate self defense, to protect itself and he understands there is no equivalence between that and terrorist groups”.

The conservative leader said that many politicians were naïve in their belief that a solution between Israel and the Palestinians would solve the conflict between militant Islam and the West.

When asked his opinion about Israel’s actions during the Second Lebanon War, Cameron said that he was among the few politicians in the world who did not call for an immediate ceasefire, but supported Israel’s right to protect itself against Hizbullah’s rockets.

However, he added, again as a “friend of Israel”, that he thought the use of cluster bombs and Israel’s responses in general were disproportional.