Speaking on the Israeli podcast “Melech Blitzer Haim,” Netanyahu criticised British media coverage of Israel and contrasted it with the reporting of British writer Randolph Churchill during the 1967 Six-Day War.
Referring to the current state of Britain, Netanyahu sarcastically said that people should look for the kind of coverage associated with the country he described as the “Islamic Republic of Britain.”
Netanyahu also appeared to reference remarks made by US Vice President JD Vance in 2022, when Vance suggested that Britain could potentially become the world’s first “Islamist” country with nuclear weapons.
Netanyahu said someone had predicted that the first nuclear-armed Islamic republic would be the “Islamic Republic of Britain.” He then added that Israel was working to ensure that there would not be another such Islamic republic in Iran.
His comments drew criticism from the Movement for Progressive Judaism, a British and Irish Jewish organisation.
Its co-chairs, Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Levy, described Netanyahu’s language as dangerous and irresponsible, particularly at a time when antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred and social divisions were causing genuine fear in Britain.
They stressed that Netanyahu does not represent British Jews and that his remarks should not be taken as speaking on behalf of the British Jewish community.
Gavin Barwell, former Downing Street chief of staff to ex-British Prime Minister Theresa May, also criticised Netanyahu’s comments, describing them as “blatant Islamophobia.”
Relations between Britain and Israel have historically been close, but tensions between the two governments have increased in recent years following policy shifts under the Labour government.
Britain has suspended some arms export licences to Israel and halted free-trade negotiations with the country. London has also imposed sanctions on far-right Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich.
Britain also joined France, Canada and other allies last year in recognising a Palestinian state.
The comments come amid growing criticism of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza and increasing pressure on the British government to take further action against Israel.
Rhodri? Abouharb, an associate professor of international relations at University College London, described Netanyahu’s remarks as a “new low” in UK-Israel relations, while noting that the two countries still share some similarities in their policies toward Iran.
He suggested that Netanyahu’s comments could also have been motivated by domestic political considerations, including an attempt to strengthen his divided governing coalition.
