Cameron made the remarks as he delivered the Franz Auerbach Interfaith Memorial Lecture at the Beit Emanuel Progressive Synagogue in Parktown‚ Johannesburg‚ on Wednesday night.
Auerbach moved to South Africa to escape Nazi Germany. He became a renowned educator.
One audience member said he was disappointed that Cameron had criticised Israel.
Cameron replied: “I cannot conscientiously address a Jewish audience without speaking about Israel’s degradations against international law.”
A large part of the audience applauded his reply.