Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sparked widespread criticism after calling the UK the “Islamic Republic of Britain” during a podcast interview. The comments were made while discussing British media coverage of Israel on the Melech Blitzer Haim podcast on Thursday.
Netanyahu's remarks
During the podcast, Netanyahu praised British writer Randolph Churchill, son of former prime minister Winston Churchill, for his “positive” coverage of Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War. According to translated comments published by Israeli media, he then said: “Go find that in Britain today, which you could call the Islamic Republic of Britain.”
Netanyahu later appeared to echo previous comments made by JD Vance about Britain becoming the first “truly Islamist country” to get a nuclear weapon. He said: “Someone said the first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons will be the Islamic Republic of Britain. We are making sure there won’t be another one here, in Iran.”
Backlash from British figures
Gavin Barwell, former Downing Street chief of staff to Theresa May, branded the comments “blatant Islamophobia.” Writing on X, Mr Barwell added: “Let’s hope everyone will now shed the pretence some still cling to that this man is any friend of Britain.”
A British and Irish Jewish group also criticised Netanyahu’s comments, saying the Israeli prime minister “does not speak for British Jews.” The Movement for Progressive Judaism added: “At a time when antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred and social division are causing real fear across our country, language of this kind is dangerous and irresponsible. Prime Minister Netanyahu does not speak for British Jews. His words do not represent us.”
Strained UK-Israel relations
The comments come amid strained relations between the British and Israeli governments. The UK has paused negotiations on a new free trade agreement with Israel and suspended some arms export licences. Britain has also imposed sanctions on Israeli cabinet ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
Last year, the UK formally recognised the State of Palestine alongside countries including Canada and Australia. Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently apologised for Labour’s initial response to Israel’s actions in Gaza, saying the party had been too slow to call for a ceasefire. He said: “That is why we need to do more, which includes looking at further sanctions on those involved in the violence in Gaza but also looking at measures to ban trading goods with illegal settlements. We’ve got to do more to put pressure on the Israeli government.”
