UK government slams Netanyahu for ‘Islamic republic of Britain’ comment

The British government hit back at Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday after he referred to the UK as an “Islamic republic,” labeling the remarks as “completely unacceptable.” A UK government spokesperson confirmed that the matter has been raised with the Israeli government. Netanyahu made the comments during an interview on Army Radio, where he also criticized the UK’s stance on Israel. During the podcast, he suggested that Britain might become the “first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons.” David Mencer, an Israeli government spokesperson, sought to downplay the remarks in a BBC interview, claiming that Netanyahu was merely quoting US Vice President JD Vance. Vance had made similar comments about the UK in July 2024, shortly before being named as Donald Trump’s running mate. Relations between the UK and Israel have been strained recently, particularly under the new leadership of Prime Minister Andy Burnham, who has criticized Israel’s military offensive in Gaza and suggested that Britain might consider banning trade in goods from Israeli settlements in the West Bank.