London has reportedly condemned as “completely unacceptable” remarks by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu referring to the UK as an “Islamic republic.”
Accords to reports, the British government has raised the issue directly with Israel, which insisted Netanyahu was simply echoing criticism leveled earlier by US Vice President JD Vance.
In an interview with an Israel Army Radio podcast late last week, Netanyahu noted that relations between Israel and the UK were healthy and warm during the Jewish state’s first few decades, but lamented that it is now difficult to find sympathy “in Britain today. What’s called ‘the Islamic Republic of Britain.'”
Netanyahu on Britain:
You might call Britain the “Islamic Republic of Britain.”
Someone said that the first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons will be the Islamic Republic of Britain.
We’re making sure there won’t be another one—you know, in Iran. pic.twitter.com/EmLpSvYtxu
— Clash Report (@clashreport) August 13, 2026
Bibi’s interviewer wondered if the UK wasn’t being unfairly singled out, noting that much of Western Europe is today facing a similar problem.
The prime minister agreed, adding, “Someone said 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 in Iran.”
Israeli government spokesman David Mencer told the BBC that Netanyahu’s quip should be seen in the context of remarks made by Vance during the 2024 US presidential election.
Vance, who at the time had yet to be tapped as Donald Trump’s running mate, told supporters that the UK was poised to become “the first truly Islamist country with nuclear weapons.”
UK might become ‘the first TRULY Islamist country with nuclear weapons’ – JD Vance throwing shade at Labour Party taking over
For some reason, this video from 2024 is going bonkers again pic.twitter.com/PyfWzVUoJn
— RT (@RT_com) February 19, 2025
While Vance is Israel’s fiercest critic within the Trump administration, he and Netanyahu do seem to agree that Europe has an Islam problem.
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