Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ignited a diplomatic firestorm after labeling the United Kingdom the “Islamic Republic of Britain” during a wide-ranging interview.
The comment, made Thursday on the Israeli podcast Melech Blitzer Haim, came as Netanyahu criticized London’s shifting foreign policy and what he called a hostile UK media landscape.
While discussing the evolution of British press coverage, Netanyahu praised the work of the late writer Randolph Churchill during the 1967 Six-Day War. He contrasted that era with contemporary reporting, sarcastically referring to the UK by the controversial moniker.
Netanyahu further escalated the rhetoric by linking his remarks to the threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. “Someone said that the first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons will be the Islamic Republic of Britain,” Netanyahu said. “We’re making sure there won’t be another one like that in Iran.”
When asked by the interviewer whether this characterization applied to the rest of Europe, the prime minister replied, “Yes.”
‘Not a Friend of Britain’
The remarks drew immediate and sharp condemnation from political figures in the UK. Gavin Barwell, former Downing Street chief of staff under Prime Minister Theresa May, accused Netanyahu of peddling Islamophobic tropes.
“Let’s hope everyone will now shed the pretense some still cling to that this man is any friend of Britain,” Barwell wrote in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
The outburst follows months of deteriorating relations between London and Jerusalem. While the two nations have historically maintained a close security alliance, the relationship has been strained by the UK’s increasingly vocal criticism of Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Deepening Diplomatic Rift
The British government recently suspended several arms export licences to Israel, citing concerns over potential violations of international humanitarian law. Furthermore, the UK has broken ranks with other allies by imposing sanctions on high-ranking members of Netanyahu’s cabinet — specifically far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich — over their policies in the West Bank.
The Starmer administration has also adopted a firmer stance on Palestinian statehood, further distancing itself from the current Israeli government’s platform.
Diplomatic analysts suggest that Netanyahu’s comments reflect growing frustration within his administration regarding European pressure. However, the use of such inflammatory language is expected to further alienate British officials and complicate ongoing negotiations over regional security and the Gaza conflict.
As of Friday morning, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office had not issued a formal rebuttal, though sources suggested a diplomatic protest may be forthcoming.
