‘First Islamic republic with nuclear weapons’: Netanyahu’s sharp rebuke of UK

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu harshly criticized the UK in a recent podcast interview, dubbing it the "Islamic republic of Britain" and warning it could soon become the "first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons." The comments were made while discussing what Netanyahu perceives as a shift in British attitudes toward Israel.

He reminisced about the positive coverage Israel received from Randolph Churchill, the son of former British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, over half a century ago, before contrasting it with the current situation in Britain. When challenged about whether his criticism was unfair to the UK, he maintained that Britain was unique in having the potential to become an Islamic republic with nuclear weapons.

The remarks come amid strained relations between Britain and Israel over the war in Gaza, with Netanyahu also opposing a US-backed plan aimed at ending the conflict, emphasizing that Israel would not withdraw from its current positions in Gaza until Hamas is completely disarmed.