According to a report by the Times of Israel on Friday August 14, 2026, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has sparked controversy after referring to the United Kingdom as an “Islamic republic” during an extended interview with Army Radio.
The remark came while Netanyahu was discussing Winston Churchill’s son, Randolph Churchill, and grandson, Winston Spencer Churchill. Both men, like the former British prime minister, worked as journalists, and Netanyahu recalled their coverage of the 1967 Six-Day War as favorable toward Israel.
He then contrasted that earlier reporting with what he described as the very different political and media environment in Britain today.
“Try to find that now in Britain, which you could call the Islamic republic of Britain,” Netanyahu said with a laugh.
The interviewer subsequently asked whether much of Europe had already moved in a similar direction, apparently referring to the growing Muslim populations in several European countries as well as increasingly critical positions toward Israel adopted by a number of European governments.
Netanyahu agreed before taking the remark further, joking that Britain could eventually become the first nuclear-armed Islamic republic outside the Middle East. He linked the comment to Iran, saying Israel was working to ensure there would not be another such state.
The comments come at a time when relations between Israel and Britain have been increasingly strained over the war in Gaza and wider disagreements about the Israeli government’s policies. Britain has been among the European countries to express strong criticism of Israel’s conduct of the conflict and has faced pressure from both domestic and international groups over its approach to the war.
Netanyahu’s latest remarks are therefore likely to draw further attention in London, particularly because they come against a backdrop of already tense diplomatic relations.
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