David Cameron has reasserted his support for Israel, saying the Conservative Party would always stand behind "the homeland of the Jewish people".

The Prime Minister described Israel as an "oasis of freedom" and the "symbol of success" as he addressed more than 700 people at a Westminster lunch.

He also attacked Labour leader Ed Miliband's position on Palestinian statehood following the historic Commons vote on the issue.

Referring to the Labour frontbench decision to allow MPs a free vote on recognising Palestine, Mr Cameron said of Mr Miliband: "That is who you are now faced with leading Labour."

He told supporters of Conservative Friends of Israel that the Jewish community shared Tory values on education and opportunity for all and urged British Jews to back him at next year's general election.

The Prime Minister also repeated his condemnation of boycotts of Israel.

"We oppose boycotts," he said. "Delegitimising the state of Israel is wrong, it is abhorrent – and together we will defeat it."

Part of Mr Cameron's 20-minute speech also focused on his visit last week to Auschwitz.

He said the experience had shown him the "horrific enormity" of what happened during the Shoah.

The lunch was attended by more than a dozen Conservative cabinet members, hundreds of the party's MPs and peers, as well as celebrities, communal leaders, donors, and Tory veterans.