Israeli vice-premier Moshe Ya'alon took part in a video conference with London activists to discuss the challenges his country faces.

The exchange was hosted by World Ort at its Camden offices, allowing 30 community members to quiz Mr Ya'alon on issues such as Islamist extremism and Iran's nuclear threat.

Speaking from his Jerusalem office, Mr Ya'alon said: "You are the people who can best confront the biggest strategic threat, which is the attempt to delegitimise and dehumanise the state of Israel."

Israel would do everything in its power to defend itself, he added, stressing that "all options" had to be considered to prevent Iran from realising its nuclear ambitions.

Mr Ya'alon - who underwent military training in Britain in the 1980s and whose father served in the British Army during World War II - said it was a "pity" that he had to avoid visiting Britain. In October, he pulled out of a JNF dinner in London over fears of arrest on suspicion of war crimes under the universal jurisdiction laws.

World Ort director general Robert Singer pointed out that the charity's "values of tolerance and education obligate us to ensure that people committed to understanding and mutual respect have access to each other".

Vivian Wineman, president of the Board of Deputies, which helped to organise the event, said the video conference was "a great idea. However, it is not a substitute for having him here in person. We want to see the law on universal jurisdiction changed."