Netanyahu Calls UK "Islamic Republic of Britain"

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sparked a wave of outrage when he referred to the United Kingdom as the "Islamic Republic of Britain" in a podcast interview. According to The Sunday Times, he said Israel is fighting Iran partly to prevent the emergence of another Islamic country with a nuclear arsenal.

He cited remarks by US Vice President JD Vance, who he said had described Britain as the first truly Islamist nuclear power. Critics on social media pointed out that Pakistan, for example, already possesses nuclear weapons.

Netanyahu's remarks come amid heightened tensions between London and Tel Aviv over the war in Gaza and the recognition of a Palestinian state. Prime Minister Andy Burnham accused his Israeli counterpart of attempting to block a two-state solution in the region.

Relations between the two countries are also complicated by the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant for Netanyahu on alleged war crimes charges, which effectively prevents him from traveling to states that are signatories to the Rome Statute. However, last month Britain also took a security measure against Iran, banning the activities of its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.

(max)