Netanyahu calls Britain "Islamic Republic" amid diplomatic rift

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has escalated a diplomatic confrontation with the United Kingdom by referring to the country as the "Islamic Republic of Britain" during a podcast interview. The inflammatory remark, made on a podcast hosted by former Israeli military officer Avi Harush, underscores the deepening rift between the two nations over the war in Gaza and broader Middle East policy.

Netanyahu made the comment while lamenting what he described as a shift in British attitudes toward Israel. He recalled meeting the grandson of Winston Churchill, whom he said had represented Israel positively, before contrasting that with the present day. "Try to find that now in Britain, which you could call the Islamic Republic of Britain," Netanyahu said. He added that someone had described Britain as potentially the first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons, a reference to a 2024 comment by U.S. Vice President JD Vance. Netanyahu then stated that Israel was working to ensure Iran would not become another such state.

The remarks highlight a significant deterioration in relations between the historically close allies. Tensions have risen since the Labour government, under...