Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the UK 'the Islamic republic of Britain' and the 'first Islamic republic to get a nuclear weapon' in an interview for Israel's army radio, prompting criticism from a domestic political rival.
Key facts
- Netanyahu made the remarks during an interview for Israel's army radio, according to the Guardian.
- He described the UK as the 'first Islamic republic to get a nuclear weapon'.
- A political rival criticised him for attacking an ally and overseeing what the rival called a 'horrific diplomatic failure', according to the Guardian.
- The comments come amid signs of growing tension between Israel and the UK's Labour government, according to Al Jazeera.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called the UK ‘the Islamic republic of Britain’ and described the country as the ‘first Islamic republic to get a nuclear weapon’ during an interview for Israel’s army radio, according to the Guardian.
The Guardian said the comments played into what it described as a common far-right Islamophobic trope about Britain’s small Muslim population.
Netanyahu was criticised by a political rival for attacking an international ally and for overseeing what the rival called a ‘horrific diplomatic failure’, according to the Guardian.
Al Jazeera reported that the comments came amid signs of growing tension between Israel and the UK’s Labour government.
The two accounts together point to a diplomatic strain between the two countries at the time of the Israeli leader’s remarks, though the sources do not detail the specific issues driving that tension.
Why it matters
Comments by the leader of one country characterising an allied nation in religious terms can escalate diplomatic friction between long-standing partners. According to the Guardian, the remarks also drew attention to wider debates about religion, immigration and national identity in Britain.
Frequently asked questions
What exactly did Netanyahu say about the UK?
According to the Guardian, Netanyahu called the UK 'the Islamic republic of Britain' and described it as the 'first Islamic republic to get a nuclear weapon' during a podcast interview for Israel's army radio.
How were the comments received?
The Guardian reported that Netanyahu was criticised by a political rival for attacking an international ally and for overseeing a 'horrific diplomatic failure'.
Why did Netanyahu make these remarks?
Al Jazeera reported the comments came amid signs of growing tension between Israel and the UK's Labour government, though the sources do not detail the specific causes of that tension.