Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the UK as “the Islamic republic of Britain” and “the first Islamic republic to get a nuclear weapon” during a podcast interview for Israel’s army radio. His comments played into a far-right Islamophobic trope about Britain’s Muslim population.
Comments in Context
Netanyahu praised positive coverage of Israel by journalist Randolph Churchill, son of former prime minister Winston Churchill, from over half a century ago, then said: “Go find that in today’s Britain, in what is called the Islamic republic of Britain.” When the host questioned whether he was unfairly singling out the UK, asking “Isn’t all of Europe is like that?”, Netanyahu doubled down, saying: “Yes, but you know someone said the first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons will be the Islamic republic of Britain.”
Pakistan, officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, has had a nuclear arsenal since the 1990s.
Strained Relations
Relations between the UK and Israel have been increasingly strained in recent months, especially since Andy Burnham took over in No 10. Shortly before becoming prime minister, he apologised for Labour’s initial response to Israel’s military action in Gaza, saying the party “didn’t get it right” and needed to “do better” under his leadership. In July, he said he would “do more to put pressure on the Israeli government”, including through further sanctions on individuals and entities, as well as a potential ban on the trade of goods with illegal settlements.
US Vice-President JD Vance made remarks similar to Netanyahu’s during the 2024 presidential campaign, saying the UK could become the first “truly Islamist country that will get a nuclear weapon”. London’s mayor, Sadiq Khan, has also been a frequent target of racialised attacks from rightwing leaders abroad, including Donald Trump.
Domestic Reaction
Muslim leaders in the UK have said that hate crimes targeting their community are hitting new levels amid a rise in far-right rhetoric. Avi Dabush, running for the Knesset with Israel’s opposition Democrats party, attacked Netanyahu for mocking a critical ally at a time when Israel faces unprecedented global isolation. “That’s what happens when there’s a horrific diplomatic failure, and an inability to rally countries in the world in favour of our interests,” he said in a social media post.
The Prime Minister’s Office did not respond to requests for comment on whether Netanyahu’s statement represented the official position of the Israeli government. The British Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
