{
  "id": 984306,
  "title": "‘Completely unacceptable’: UK slams Netanyahu for ‘Islamic republic’ comment",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/completely-unacceptable-uk-slams-netanyahu-for-islamic-republic",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-15T07:05:35.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Times of Israel",
    "slug": "the-times-of-israel",
    "url": "https://www.timesofisrael.com/completely-unacceptable-uk-slams-netanyahu-for-islamic-republic-comment/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": null,
  "summary": "The UK government has criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for calling the UK an \"Islamic republic\" in an interview. A UK government spokesman said the comments were \"completely unacceptable\" and that they had raised the matter with the Israeli government.\n\nNetanyahu made the comments during an army radio podcast interview, where he also joked that the UK could be considered the \"first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons\". According to the New Straits Times and Free Malaysia Today, Netanyahu was referencing a quote from someone else, but also added the comment with a smile.\n\nThe Israeli government has downplayed the remark, with spokesman David Mencer saying that Netanyahu was quoting United States Vice President JD Vance. The UK government's criticism of Netanyahu's comments has sparked a diplomatic tit-for-tat between the two countries.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 10,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Ynetnews",
        "title": "Netanyahu mocks UK as ‘Islamic Republic of Britain’ in podcast remarks",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/13/netanyahu-mocks-uk-as-islamic-republic-of-britain-in-podcast-remarks",
        "published": "2026-08-13T17:44:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Times of Israel",
        "title": "Netanyahu calls UK an ‘Islamic republic,’ jokes it would be first one with nukes",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/netanyahu-calls-uk-an-islamic-republic-jokes-it-would-be-first-one",
        "published": "2026-08-14T07:07:32.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "People Daily Kenya",
        "title": "Netanyahu describes UK as first Islamic republic to get a nuclear weapon",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/netanyahu-describes-uk-as-first-islamic-republic-to-get-a-nuclear",
        "published": "2026-08-14T12:00:01.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Haaretz",
        "title": "Netanyahu calls U.K. 'Islamic Republic of Britain' in podcast appearance",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/netanyahu-calls-u-k-islamic-republic-of-britain-in-podcast-appearance",
        "published": "2026-08-14T14:20:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Middle East Eye",
        "title": "Netanyahu brands Britain an ‘Islamic republic’ as it prepares Israel sanctions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/netanyahu-brands-britain-an-islamic-republic-as-it-prepares-israel",
        "published": "2026-08-14T15:21:45.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "UK criticises Netanyahu over ‘Islamic republic of Britain’ comment",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/14/uk-criticises-netanyahu-over-islamic-republic-of-britain-comment",
        "published": "2026-08-14T21:45:34.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "NDTV",
        "title": "\"Unacceptable\": UK Slams Netanyahu Over \"Islamic Republic Of Britain\" Remark",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/unacceptable-uk-slams-netanyahu-over-islamic-republic-of-britain",
        "published": "2026-08-15T01:34:33.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "UK slams Netanyahu over 'Islamic republic of Britain' remark",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/uk-slams-netanyahu-over-islamic-republic-of-britain-remark",
        "published": "2026-08-15T03:36:21.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Euronews",
        "title": "UK hits back after Netanyahu labels it 'the Islamic republic of Britain'",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/15/uk-hits-back-after-netanyahu-labels-it-the-islamic-republic-of-britain",
        "published": "2026-08-15T06:16:02.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}