Justin Bieber has hit out at the paparazzi for photographing him inside a church in Israel.

The star, who is set to perform in Tel Aviv's Hayarkon Park on Thursday – his first show in Israel– complained on Twitter that more respect should be shown in holy paces.

The 17-year-old Canadian, the most Googled person on the planet, said: "All I wanted was the chance to walk where Jesus did here in Israel.

"People wait their whole lives for opportunities like this, why would they want to take that experience away from someone."

He added that he expected to be snapped eating but not in a place of prayer and said: "They should be ashamed of themselves.

"I just thought they might respect places that are meaningful like 'the church'". He said he would be staying in his room at the Sheraton hotel for the remainder of the visit.

His Israeli fans, some of whom mounted an overnight vigil outside his hotel, launched a twitter campaign in response apologising for what had happened.

Justin is expected to stay in Israel until Saturday. He is to meet Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at his office on Wednesday.