Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has mockingly referred to the United Kingdom as the “Islamic Republic of Britain.” He made the remark while criticizing British media reports about Israel. Analysts say the comments were directed at Britain, historically one of Israel’s closest European allies.

Netanyahu made the remarks on Thursday (August 13), local time, while speaking on the Israeli podcast Melech Blitzer Haim in response to British media coverage of Israel.

During the discussion, Netanyahu referred to British writer Randolph Churchill and praised his “positive” reporting on Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War. He then sarcastically contrasted that coverage with present-day Britain, saying, “Today in Britain, look for something like that, which you can now call the ‘Islamic Republic of Britain’ or the Islamic Republic of Britain.”

Later in the podcast, Netanyahu also referred to a comment made by JD Vance in 2022. At the time, Vance had said that the United Kingdom could potentially become the first “Islamist country” with nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu said, “Someone said the first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons would be the ‘Islamic Republic of Britain’.” He added, “We are making sure that this does not happen here, that is, in Iran.”

‘Does not represent British Jews’

A Jewish organization representing communities in Britain and Ireland has strongly criticized Netanyahu’s remarks. Rabbis Charlie Baginsky and Josh Levy, co-leaders of the Movement for Progressive Judaism, described the comments as hateful and divisive.

They said, “At a time when antisemitism, Islamophobia and social division are causing real fear in our country, this kind of language is dangerous and irresponsible.”

They added that Prime Minister Netanyahu does not speak on behalf of British Jews and that his comments do not represent them.

Despite the historically close relationship between the two countries, tensions between Israel and the British government have increased since the progressive Labour Party came to power in the UK in 2024. Under Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Britain has suspended free-trade talks with Israel and cancelled some arms export licences.

Like France, the UK has also imposed sanctions on hard-right Israeli government ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Last year, Britain joined France, Canada and other allied countries in the process of recognizing a Palestinian state.

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently apologized for the Labour Party’s initial response to Israel’s actions in Gaza. He acknowledged that the party had been too slow in calling for a ceasefire.

Burnham said, “That is why we need to take further action. That includes imposing further sanctions on those involved in the violence in Gaza and considering banning trade in goods with illegal settlements. We need to do much more to put pressure on the Israeli government.”

Source: Al Jazeera