The Israeli PM’s comment comes amid indicators of rising stress between Israel and the UK’s Labour authorities.
Printed On 14 Aug 2026
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has referred to the UK because the “Islamic Republic of Britain”, a dig at considered one of Israel’s traditionally closest European allies.
Netanyahu made the comment on the Israeli podcast Melech Blitzer Haim that aired on Thursday as he objected to British media protection of Israel.
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For example, Netanyahu pointed to British author Randolph Churchill, who he praised for his “constructive” protection of Israel through the 1967 Six-Day Battle. Netanyahu then added sarcastically: “Go discover that in Britain at the moment, which you can name the Islamic Republic of Britain,” in accordance with translated feedback revealed by Israeli media.
Later within the podcast, Netanyahu appeared to reference comments made by JD Vance in 2022 that the UK could represent the primary nuclear-armed “Islamist nation”.
“Somebody stated the primary Islamic republic with nuclear weapons would be the Islamic Republic of Britain,” Netanyahu stated.
“We’re ensuring there gained’t be one other one right here, in Iran,” he added.
‘Doesn’t converse for British Jews’
A British and Irish Jewish group criticised the Israeli prime minister’s feedback as hateful and divisive.
“At a time when antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred and social division are inflicting actual concern throughout our nation, language of this type is harmful and irresponsible,” stated Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Lev, co-leads of the Motion for Progressive Judaism.
“Prime Minister Netanyahu doesn’t converse for British Jews. His phrases don’t signify us,” they stated.
Gavin Barwell, former Downing Avenue chief of employees to Prime Minister Theresa Might, stated Netanyahu’s feedback amounted to “blatant Islamophobia”.
“Let’s hope everybody will now shed the pretence some nonetheless cling to that this man is any good friend of Britain,” Barwell wrote in a put up on X.
Regardless of historically robust ties, tensions between the Israeli and British governments have grown because the progressive Labour Get together took energy within the UK in 2024.
Beneath former Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer, the UK paused free commerce talks with Israel and suspended some arms export licences.
Like France, the UK has also imposed sanctions on far-right Israeli cupboard members Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
Final yr, the UK joined allies, together with France and Canada, in recognising a Palestinian state.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently apologised for Labour’s preliminary response to Israel’s actions in Gaza, saying the celebration was too sluggish to name for a ceasefire.
“That’s the reason we have to do extra, which incorporates taking a look at additional sanctions on these concerned within the violence in Gaza but additionally taking a look at measures to ban buying and selling items with unlawful settlements,” stated Burnham. “We’ve bought to do extra to place stress on the Israeli authorities.”
Rodwan Abouharb, affiliate professor in worldwide relations at College School London, stated Netanyahu’s jibe marks a “new low” in UK-Israel relations, but additionally “belies a substantial overlap in coverage targets” between the 2 states relating to Iran.
“Netanyahu’s feedback could also be extra for home functions, to shore up his fractured governing coalition,” Abouharb advised Al Jazeera.
