Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made comments characterizing the United Kingdom as an Islamic republic during an interview with Israel’s army radio. He stated that the UK was “the first Islamic republic to get a nuclear weapon,” remarks that observers noted reflected a common far-right Islamophobic trope about the country’s Muslim population.
Netanyahu’s comments built on earlier remarks praising positive historical coverage of Israel by journalist Randolph Churchill, son of former UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill, suggesting such coverage would be difficult to find in contemporary Britain. When the radio host asked whether Netanyahu was unfairly singling out the UK, the prime minister doubled down on his characterization. The host did not challenge the comments.
Pakistan, officially designated the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, has maintained a nuclear arsenal since the 1990s. Similar characterizations of the UK have been made by other international figures, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance, who referred during a campaign to the possibility of the UK becoming the first “truly Islamist country that will get a nuclear weapon.”
Tensions between the UK and Israel have escalated in recent months following changes in British leadership and policy. The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office responded to Netanyahu’s comments by stating they were “completely unacceptable” and confirmed the government had raised the matter with Israeli officials. The Prime Minister’s Office did not respond to requests for clarification on whether the statements represented the official Israeli government position.
Opposition figures within Israel criticized Netanyahu’s remarks. Avi Dabush, running for the Knesset with the opposition Democrats party, characterized the comments as a diplomatic misstep at a time when Israel faces international isolation. London’s Mayor Sadiq Khan has been similarly targeted by far-right political figures, and Muslim community leaders in the UK have reported elevated hate crimes amid rising far-right rhetoric and anti-immigrant political movements.
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