BENJAMIN Netanyahu has branded the UK “the Islamic Republic of Britain” as he wrongly claimed it was the first Muslim state to have nuclear weapons.
The Israeli prime minister, who is subject to an international arrest warrant for war crimes, made the comments on a podcast broadcast on the country’s military radio.
He was speaking with Avi Harush, a former Israeli military officer whose son was killed in Gaza during the Palestinian genocide, about Winston Churchill’s grandson.
The Israeli PM described the man, also named Winston, as a “lover of Israel” who viewed the Six Day War, in which Israel seized east Jerusalem and the West Bank, as a “positive”.
“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,” said Netanyahu.
“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.”
The only Muslim country to possess nuclear weapons is Pakistan.
His comments echoed those made by US vice president JD Vance at the National Conservatism Conference in 2024, when he called the UK the first “truly Islamist country that will get a nuclear weapon”.
Netanyahu has been angered by some of the UK’s response to the genocide in Gaza, which has included the recognition of a Palestinian state.
However, the UK Government has faced greater criticism at home for its support for Israel during the assault on Gaza, which has killed around 75,200.
It has co-operated in sending spy flights over the bombarded territory and continued sales of parts for F-35 fighter jets.
Domestically, the UK Government banned Palestine Action after a number of high-profile raids on companies linked with the Israeli military, which has led to the arrests of thousands of people for expressing support for the proscribed group.
The UK Government has also so far resisted pressure to suspend trade with the occupied Palestinian territories, which it considers illegally occupied by Israel and which was worth £38 million last year.
Andy Burnham, who became Prime Minister in June, previously refused to describe Israel’s actions in Gaza as a genocide but admitted his party’s approach to the issue had caused “huge hurt”.
Keir Starmer sparked outrage before the last General Election, when he insisted that Israel had the “right” to cut off water and electricity to Gaza as it bombarded the territory.
