Calling for the destruction of Israel is a modern day form of antisemitism, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has insisted.

Speaking on Monday as he made his first official visit to Israel, Mrl Guterres also argued that criticism of the Jewish state was "normal" - especially when many Israeli citizens "have exactly the same expressions of opinion."

Mr Guterres had meetings today with President  Reuven Rivlin and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

President Rivlin raised what he described as the "unacceptable" targeting of Israel by UN member states and threats to destroy the state of Israel.

The UN Secretary-General said in response:" No member state in the UN should be allowed to behave like that.

"These actions weaken cooperation between states and are against the rule of law.”

Mr Guterres added: “I do believe that in particular when you mention those who call for the destruction of the State of Israel that that is a form of modern anti-Semitism.

"We will always be very committed to make sure antisemitism doesn't prevail and that equality in the treatment of all states is fully respected.”

The UN leader said legitimate criticism of Israel should not be attacked:  “But you also understand that I sometimes disagree with positions of the Government of Israel or any other government, and that is absolutely normal in a society where many of your citizens have exactly the same expressions of opinion.”

Mr Guterres also insisted he would "always be frank" with Israel during negotiations towards peace in the region.

Both Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Rivlin had harsh words for the UN Secretary-General about alleged discrimination by his organisation against Israel and the failure of its mandate to stop Hezbollah from arming itself.

Speaking ahead of Monday's meeting, Mr Netanyahu told Israeli media that Iran was turning Syria into a "base of military entrenchment as part of its declared goal to eradicate Israel."

He added:"It is also building sites to produce precision-guided missiles towards that end, in both Syria and in Lebanon. This is something Israel cannot accept. This is something the UN should not accept."

PM Netanyahu later told the UN Secretary-General that although the UN was mandated with preventing weapons shipments to Hezbollah, the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon has not even reported one of the “tens of thousands of weapons smuggling into Lebanon for Hezbollah, contrary to 1701.”

Mr Guterres responded that “I will do everything in my capacity to make sure that UNIFIL fully meets its mandate.”

After visiting Yad Vashem on Monday, he said the memorial serves as a reminder “that we need to be in the first line in fighting against antisemitism, but first of all fighting against all other forms of bigotry, be it racism, xenophobia, even anti-Muslim hatred, to promote understanding and to promote dialogue.”