Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sharply criticized the United Kingdom, referring to it as the "Islamic Republic of Britain" in a recent interview. The remarks, made during a conversation with Avi Harush on his podcast, come amid increasing strain in UK-Israel relations, particularly concerning the war in Gaza and Britain's stance on a Palestinian state.
Netanyahu contrasted the current attitude in Britain with that of Winston Churchill's grandson, whom he described as a "nice man" and a "lover of Israel" who viewed the Six-Day War positively. "Just try to find that kind of attitude in Britain now – or in what's known as 'The Islamic Republic of Britain'. You won't find it," Netanyahu stated.
The Israeli leader also invoked the nuclear ambitions of Iran, making a pointed remark about the UK. "Someone said – you know – that the first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons will be the Islamic Republic of Britain. So, we're making sure there won't be another one like that in Iran," he said, linking his comments to Israel's goal of preventing Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons.
The UK's relationship with Israel has been strained over the past year. Britain's recognition of Palestine as a state has been a point of contention, with Netanyahu previously accusing Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer of appeasing Hamas. More recently, current Labour leadership has criticized Netanyahu, suggesting he is undermining the possibility of a two-state solution.
In a notable shift, Andy Burnham, a successor to Starmer's position, has apologized for the Labour Party's past responses to Israel's actions in Gaza, admitting the party's stance had alienated voters and that the UK was "too slow to call for a ceasefire."
Netanyahu's comments emerge as Jared Kushner, former U.S. President Donald Trump's son-in-law and negotiator, is preparing to visit the Middle East. Kushner, along with Nickolay Mladenov and former British Prime Minister Sir Tony Blair, are scheduled to travel to Israel and then Cairo. The purpose of their trip is to advance plans for an end to the conflict in Gaza, following the announcement of a deal by the Trump administration that has encountered Israeli opposition.
An official associated with the Board of Peace, an organization established by Trump to oversee a ceasefire, indicated that the group's meetings would underscore their commitment to achieving "peace, prosperity and sustainable security" in a demilitarized Gaza. This vision includes Hamas ceding control to facilitate reconstruction.
However, Israel has expressed reservations about a recent Trump-brokered deal involving Hamas disarmament and Israeli withdrawal from Gaza. Despite Hamas reportedly accepting the disarmament aspect, Netanyahu has maintained that Israel will not withdraw until Hamas is fully disarmed. This deal had been viewed as a potential breakthrough for ending the protracted war.