‘’Europe needs to support Israel, not pressure Israel and not attack Israel, but support Israel, which is the only true protection Europe has in the Middle East against surging extremist Islam,’’ Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Wednesday as he left for an official two-day visit to the UK.

The Prime Minister will meet with his British counterpart David Cameron. The two men will discuss diplomatic, strategic and bilateral issues, as well as joint challenges in the fields of security, economics and cyber. Netanyahu will also meet with MPs and Jewish community leaders.

‘’We are prepared to act together with Europe in Africa and other places to fight extremist Islam but this requires a change of approach. This change will take time but we will implement it. This will be one focus of my talks with David Cameron. The second thing is that we need to fight extremist Islam not only at the borders, as we are doing, but also within our territory,’’ Netanyahu said.

He also insisted that the Iranian regime continues to deceive the West.

"Khamenei is not giving supporters of the agreement any room for illusion. He has made it clear that the US is the Great Satan and that Iran intends to destroy the State of Israel," he said. He continued, "This will not happen. Israel is a strong country and it will become even stronger. However, the conclusion that arises from the remarks of the tyrant in Tehran is that all responsible countries must cooperate in order to stop Iran's terrorism and aggression which, to my regret, will only increase as a result of the agreement."

Ahead of Netanyahu’s visit, the British government has announced that Israeli companies will invest some £3 million (€4,1 million) in South Wales as part of plans that could lead to the creation of up to 100 jobs.

Economic ties between the two countries have deepened considerably in recent years. Bilateral trade was valued at more than £5.1 billion (€6,9 billion) in 2014 and UK Trade and Investment together with Israeli Economy Ministry are continuously working to promote further partnerships between British and Israeli companies.

Britain is Israel’s second biggest export market after the United States and nine Israeli companies carried out IPOs on the London Stock Exchange last year – second only to the UK itself.

Some 300 Israeli companies have a physical presence in the UK, responsible for thousands of jobs. In 2014, 24 Israeli companies set up or expanded their operations in the UK.

Beyond business, the two countries have also strengthened cooperation and ties in the fields of science and technology.

On Wednesday, hundreds pro-Israel protesters faced pro-Palestinian demonstrators outside 10 Downing Street where Benjamin Netanyahui was to meet David Cameron.

According to the Zionist Federation UK, one pro-Palestinian protester waved a penny at pro-Israel demonstrators and shouted “you only understand money”, before police placed handcuffs on him.

The Irish demonstrator wearing a Palestinian scarf was engaging in a heated argument during the protest against Benjamin Netanyahu’s visit. In the short clip filmed outside Whitehall by the Zionist Federation, he tells pro-Israel demonstrators: “Here have a penny..” adding “you only understand money” a number of times.