Netanyahu's 'Islamic Republic of Britain' remark draws UK government rebuke

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referred to the United Kingdom as 'the Islamic Republic of Britain' during an army radio podcast interview, prompting a British government spokesperson to label the remarks 'completely unacceptable' and confirm the matter had been raised with the Israeli government.

The comments arose during a lengthy podcast recorded with Avi Harush, whose son Reef was killed fighting in southern Gaza in April 2024, according to The Jerusalem Post. The conversation was centred on grief, memory, and legacy, and the 'Islamic Republic of Britain' reference appeared around the 100th minute of a 112-minute interview.

The exchange began when Netanyahu praised Randolph Churchill, son of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, for what he described as favourable coverage of Israel during the Six-Day War of 1967. Netanyahu then said: 'Try and find that now, in what is called the Islamic republic of Britain.'

When the podcast host suggested that all of Europe was similar, Netanyahu agreed, adding: 'Yes, but someone said, the first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons will be the Islamic republic of Great Britain. So, we'll make sure there isn't a second one here in Iran.'

According to The Jerusalem Post, the 'someone' Netanyahu was referencing was US Vice President JD Vance, who made a comparable remark in July 2024. The Jerusalem Post notes, however, that Vance's original comment included a caveat — that Pakistan 'already kind of counts' as a nuclear Islamist state — which did not feature in Netanyahu's retelling. Euronews separately notes that the Islamic Republic of Pakistan has been a nuclear power since 1998.

According to The Jerusalem Post, Netanyahu's comment reflects a pattern of thinking rather than a planned political message, given the informal, personal nature of the podcast setting. The outlet argues the remark suggests Netanyahu views Britain and much of Western Europe as increasingly hostile to Israel, with changing demographics fuelling anti-Israel sentiment, and that it reveals growing bitterness toward British political leadership.

Euronews notes that Netanyahu's remarks echo claims made by politicians and activists on the British and international right who argue Britain is becoming increasingly influenced by Islam.

UK-Israel relations have been under strain, particularly since Andy Burnham became British Prime Minister. Euronews reports that weeks before taking office, Burnham apologised for his Labour party's initial response to the war in Gaza and stated it needed to 'do better.' Burnham condemned Hamas's October 7 attacks and antisemitic incidents in the UK as 'monstrous' and 'appalling,' but also stated that 'the unbearable suffering in Gaza is a scar on our collective conscience' and called for more pressure on the Israeli government. The Jerusalem Post additionally notes that under former Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Britain suspended some arms export licences to Israel, halted free-trade agreement negotiations, sanctioned Israeli ministers, and recognised a Palestinian state.

British broadcaster Piers Morgan reposted a clip of Netanyahu's remarks with a single-word response — 'Idiot' — according to The Jerusalem Post.

• No direct response or comment from Netanyahu's office specifically addressing the British government's formal rebuke is included in either source.
• The Israeli government's response to the British diplomatic complaint, beyond the fact that the matter was raised with it, is not detailed in any source.
• Neither source establishes whether Netanyahu was aware his podcast remarks would be widely reported outside Israel or internationally broadcast.
• The full content and framing of JD Vance's original July 2024 comment is not reproduced in full in either source.
• No polling or broader public opinion data from either the UK or Israel on the state of bilateral relations is provided.

1. The Jerusalem Post — original — by HERB KEINON
2. Euronews — by Nathan Rennolds

Read the original at The Jerusalem Post

• US women's national team loses 2-0 to No. 1-ranked Spain in Washington friendly
• Overdue cannabis invoices strain New Jersey dispensary market, operators say
• Muncy says he knows which Dodgers player was exposed in clubhouse video, won't name him
• Steven Quay no longer leading choice to head NIAID, source tells STAT
• Society of Composers & Lyricists Opens First International Chapter in London
• Pentagon Plans to Livestream Execution of Fort Hood Shooter Nidal Hasan, Hegseth Says