UK hits back after Netanyahu labels it 'the Islamic republic of Britain'

Netanyahu made the comments during an army radio podcast interview, in which he also joked that the UK was the "first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons."

euronews.com ·1h ago

The UK government has responded to comments made by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who derisively referred to Britain as an "Islamic republic" in an army radio podcast interview. According to the New Straits Times and Free Malaysia Today, Netanyahu's remarks were branded as "completely unacceptable" by a UK government spokesman, who added that the comments had been raised with the Israeli government.

Netanyahu made the comments while criticizing the UK's stance on Israel, and his words echoed those of far-right politicians and commentators who have made baseless claims that parts of Britain have come under Islamic law due to immigration. In the podcast interview, Netanyahu also referenced a quote about Britain being the "first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons," saying it with a smile.

An Israeli government spokesman, David Mencer, later downplayed Netanyahu's comments in a BBC radio interview, saying that Netanyahu was simply quoting someone else.

Brief written by urgent.news from Euronews, New Straits Times, The Times of Israel, Free Malaysia Today — 4 reports on this story. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.