Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made controversial remarks about the United Kingdom during an interview with Israel’s army radio, describing the country as the “Islamic republic of Britain” and characterizing it as the “first Islamic republic to get a nuclear weapon.” His comments invoked language associated with far-right Islamophobic tropes regarding Britain’s Muslim population. Netanyahu praised historical coverage of Israel by journalist Randolph Churchill, the son of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, before pivoting to his criticism of contemporary Britain.
The host did not challenge Netanyahu’s characterization but instead asked whether he was singling out the UK unfairly, to which Netanyahu replied affirmatively and reiterated his statement. Pakistan, which officially identifies as the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, has possessed a nuclear arsenal since the 1990s, a factual distinction relevant to Netanyahu’s claim.
UK-Israeli relations have grown increasingly tense in recent months, particularly following Andy Burnham’s appointment as British Prime Minister. Before assuming office, Burnham apologized for Labour’s initial response to Israeli military operations in Gaza and indicated his government would pursue stronger pressure on the Israeli government through sanctions and potential trade restrictions on goods from illegal settlements. The US Vice President JD Vance made similar remarks about the UK during the 2024 presidential campaign.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has faced repeated racialised attacks from right-wing figures internationally, including former US President Donald Trump. Muslim leaders in the UK have reported that hate crimes targeting their community are reaching unprecedented levels amid rising far-right rhetoric and growing support for anti-immigrant political movements. The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office stated that Netanyahu’s comments were “completely unacceptable” and reported raising the matter with the Israeli government.
Israeli opposition figure Avi Dabush, running for the Knesset with the Democrats party, criticized Netanyahu for disparaging a critical ally at a time when Israel faces significant international isolation. The Prime Minister’s Office did not respond to requests clarifying whether Netanyahu’s statement represented official Israeli government policy.
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