Yair Netanyahu, son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, sparked controversy by posting on social media in Spanish that the Falkland Islands belong to Argentina. The statement came as part of a broader argument that Israel should align more closely with Argentina’s far-right government under President Javier Milei, citing their friendlier stance toward Israel compared to the United Kingdom.
The comments drew unexpected backlash from British right-wing figures who have historically supported Israel. Rupert Lowe, leader of the far-right Restore Britain party, directly responded to Netanyahu on social media, asserting that the islands would remain British and that his party would “go to war if necessary” to preserve British sovereignty. Sir Conor Burns, a former Conservative MP, characterized the remarks as “stupid” and warned they could damage Israel’s standing among British conservatives. Far-right activist Tommy Robinson also voiced support for British sovereignty over the territory.
Academics and analysts noted the significance of these remarks. Rob Geist Pinfold, a lecturer on security studies at King’s College London, described them as the latest example of Yair Netanyahu antagonizing constituencies in Europe that are typically inclined to defend Israel. James Vaughan, a lecturer in international history at Aberystwyth University, suggested the comments could alienate segments of the British right, though he noted that right-wing movements are not monolithic on Israel-related issues.
No official Israeli government representative has publicly endorsed Yair Netanyahu’s position on the Falklands, though Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar has previously invoked the islands when defending Israeli settlement policies in the West Bank. The Falklands dispute has a history in UK-Israeli relations, including tensions stemming from Israeli arms sales to Argentina in the early 1980s. Experts indicated the remarks reflect broader tensions between Israel and Britain under the current Labour government, which has taken measures including pausing trade talks and suspending some arms export licenses.
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