Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made controversial comments about the United Kingdom during an interview with Israel’s army radio, characterizing the country as an “Islamic republic of Britain” and describing it as the “first Islamic republic to get a nuclear weapon.”
Netanyahu’s remarks drew on language often associated with far-right Islamophobic narratives regarding Britain’s Muslim population. During the podcast discussion, he referenced positive historical coverage of Israel by journalist Randolph Churchill, noting the contrast with what he characterized as contemporary British attitudes. When the radio host asked if Netanyahu was singling out the UK unfairly, he responded by stating that others had made similar observations about Britain’s status as a nuclear-armed Islamic republic.
The comments came amid deteriorating relations between Israel and the UK. British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who took office recently, has signaled a shift in the country’s Middle East policy. Before assuming his current position, Burnham apologized for Labour’s initial response to Israeli military operations in Gaza and pledged to increase pressure on the Israeli government through additional sanctions and potential restrictions on settlement-related trade.
Israeli opposition politician Avi Dabush, running for the Knesset with the Democrats party, criticized Netanyahu for his remarks, arguing that mocking a critical ally during a period of significant global isolation reflected diplomatic failures. The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office stated that the comments were “completely unacceptable” and indicated the government had raised the matter with Israeli officials. Netanyahu’s office did not respond to requests clarifying whether the statement represented official Israeli government policy.
Similar characterizations of the UK have previously been made by U.S. Vice President JD Vance during the campaign trail. Additionally, London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan has been subject to comparable attacks from international far-right leaders. Muslim organizations in the UK have reported that hate crimes targeting their community are reaching new levels amid increased far-right rhetoric and the rise of anti-immigrant political movements.
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