UK Rebukes Netanyahu's 'Islamic Republic' Slur as Ties Strain Under Burnham
Updated
Updated · Euronews · Aug 14
UK Rebukes Netanyahu's 'Islamic Republic' Slur as Ties Strain Under Burnham
3 articles · Updated · Euronews · Aug 14
Summary
Britain called Benjamin Netanyahu's description of the UK as "the Islamic republic of Britain" "completely unacceptable" and said it had raised the issue with the Israeli government.
The remarks came in an army radio podcast where Netanyahu also joked that Britain was the "first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons" and linked that line to his warning about Iran.
The exchange adds to worsening UK-Israel friction since Prime Minister Andy Burnham took office, with London taking a sharper public line on Israel's conduct in Gaza.
Early July comments from Burnham condemned Hamas's October 7 attack but said Gaza's "unbearable suffering" required stronger pressure on Israel, setting the backdrop for the latest diplomatic clash.