Netanyahu Calls UK ‘Islamic Republic of Britain,’ Sparks Outrage Over Islamophobic Remark

Netanyahu Calls UK ‘Islamic Republic of Britain,’ Sparks Outrage Over Islamophobic Remark

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sparked a diplomatic firestorm after referring to the United Kingdom as the “Islamic Republic of Britain” during a podcast interview, drawing sharp condemnation from British Jewish leaders and former government officials while underscoring growing tensions between the two long-standing allies. Netanyahu made the remarks during an appearance on the Israeli podcast Melech Blitzer Haim, which aired on Thursday, August 13, 2026. The Israeli leader was discussing British media coverage of Israel, contrasting what he described as the “positive” reporting by journalist Randolph Churchill during the 1967 Six-Day War with the current British political climate.

“Try finding that in Britain today. What’s called ‘the Islamic Republic of Britain’,” Netanyahu said, according to translated comments published by Israeli media.

When the podcast host asked whether “all of Europe isn’t already like that,” referring to demographic changes and the growth of Muslim communities across the continent, Netanyahu responded, “Yes.” He then invoked remarks previously made by US Vice President JD Vance, stating: “Someone said that the first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons will be the Islamic Republic of Britain… so we’re making sure there won’t be another one in Iran.”

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The remarks were immediately condemned by British and Irish Jewish leaders, who accused Netanyahu of using divisive and irresponsible language at a time of heightened social tensions. “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,” said Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Lev, co-leads of the Movement for Progressive Judaism. “Prime Minister Netanyahu does not speak for British Jews. His words do not represent us.”

Gavin Barwell, a former Downing Street chief of staff under Prime Minister Theresa May, described the remarks as “blatant Islamophobia” and questioned whether Netanyahu could still be regarded as a friend of Britain. “Let’s hope everyone will now shed the pretence some still cling to that this man is any friend of Britain,” Barwell wrote on X. British broadcaster Piers Morgan also weighed in, sharing a clip of the remarks on X and calling Netanyahu an “idiot.” The post attracted hundreds of thousands of views and sparked a wider online dispute, with Israeli Channel 14 correspondent Omri Haim responding: “Yes, he is the idiot. How is Birmingham doing? Don’t come crying when you feel the water boiling, frog.” Israeli opposition politician Avi Dabush, running for the Knesset as a Democrats party candidate, also criticised the remarks, writing on X: “That’s what happens when there’s a horrific diplomatic failure, and an inability to rally countries in the world in favor of our interests.” Dabush noted that Britain is a member of the UN Security Council “six times the size of Israel.”

Netanyahu’s comments come amid increasingly strained relations between Israel and Britain, despite the countries’ traditionally strong ties. Tensions have escalated since the Labour Party returned to power in the UK in 2024. Under former Labour Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Britain paused free trade talks with Israel and suspended some arms export licences. The UK has also imposed sanctions on far-right Israeli cabinet members Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich. Last year, Britain joined France and Canada in recognising a Palestinian state.

Current British Prime Minister Andy Burnham recently apologised for Labour’s initial response to Israel’s actions in Gaza, saying the party was too slow to call for a ceasefire. Burnham has indicated he would pursue further sanctions on individuals and entities involved in violence in Gaza and consider measures to ban trading goods with illegal settlements. “We’ve got to do more to put pressure on the Israeli government,” Burnham said.

Rodwan Abouharb, associate professor of international relations at University College London, described Netanyahu’s comments as a “new low” in UK-Israel relations, while suggesting they could also serve Netanyahu’s domestic political interests as he faces a fractured governing coalition ahead of Israel’s October 27 election. Chris Doyle, director of the Council for Arab-British Understanding, said on X: “Netanyahu will say anything. This is as ridiculous as stating that Israel is a democracy that abides by the rule of law for all its citizens; or that it has the most moral army in the world.”

Netanyahu Calls UK ‘Islamic Republic of Britain,’ Sparks Outrage Over Islamophobic Remark