AN angry crowd of protesters outside Downing Street marked Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s arrival in Britain yesterday by demanding his arrest for atrocities inflicted on the Palestinian people.

Around 300 Palestine solidarity supporters nearly caused a roadblock after taking up the whole width of the street outside Prime Minister David Cameron’s central London residence.

A long banner that read: “Netanyahu not welcome” was unfurled in front of the gates amid the hours-long clash between angry pro-Palestinian demonstrators and around 50 people from a smaller counter-protest supporting Israel.

A group of at least 10 anti-zionist Orthodox Jews also turned up to show solidarity with the Palestinians.

The demonstration, organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC), took place on the eve of talks between Mr Cameron and his Israeli counterpart, who is spending two days in Britain.

They are set to discuss the so-called peace process and the goods produced in Israeli settlements on Palestinian land, they claim.

Ahead of the protest, PSC chairman Hugh Lanning said: “Mr Cameron should get his priorities straight.

“Instead of welcoming Netanyahu, he should be imposing immediate sanctions and an arms embargo on Israel until it complies with international law and ends the occupation and the siege of Gaza.”

More than 108,000 people signed a petition in the run-up to Mr Netanyahu’s visit calling for him to be arrested for war crimes.

The Israeli military killed at least 2,100 Palestinians, including more than 500 children, during last year’s onslaught, which lasted over six weeks. Seven Israeli civilians and 66 IDF soldiers also died.

Outside Downing Street, police struggled to separate scuffling protesters and others engaged in heated debates over the 66 years of Israeli occupation of Palestine and repeated attacks on Gaza.

Israel’s supporters, who were vastly outnumbered, tried to drown out chants of “free Palestine” by playing loud Israeli pop music.

They also shouted “get the terrorist off the streets” when a young Asian-looking man was pulled away from the crowds by two police officers. He was later allowed to go free.

One woman was heard saying: “I love winding them up” after trying to goad Palestine supporters into arguments and subsequently being told to move on by police.

The Metropolitan Police said: “A small number of protesters were arrested for obstruction, assault and criminal damage.”

A Palestinian woman at the protest told the Star that she was angry because she has no right of return to her homeland. Israeli forces drove her family and neighbours out of their homes when she was just 28 days old.

Mr Netanyahu said in a press statement: “Europe needs to support Israel, not pressure Israel and not attack Israel, which is the only true protection Europe has in the Middle East against surging extremist Islam.”

He is planning a meeting on his return to Israel to discuss “boosting forces, stepping up enforcement, minimum sentences and blowing up terrorists’ houses.”