UK Condemns Netanyahu’s ‘Islamic Republic’ Remark as Unacceptable

Britain’s Foreign Office called Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s description of the United Kingdom as ‘the first Islamic republic that will get a nuclear weapon’ ‘completely unacceptable’ and said it raised the comments with Israel. Netanyahu made the remarks in an Army Radio podcast, referring to Britain’s Muslim population and repeating a warning previously voiced by U.S. Vice President JD Vance. Relations have been strained since British Prime Minister Andy Burnham promised greater pressure on Israel, including possible additional sanctions and restrictions on trade with Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria. Netanyahu’s office did not answer whether the statement represented official Israeli policy.