Did Netanyahu’s ‘Islamic Republic’ barb harm UK ties?
Following Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s sarcastic reference last week to the U.K. as “the Islamic Republic of Britain,” critics in both countries accused him of damaging bilateral relations at a sensitive time.However, longtime observers of U.K.-Israeli relations told JNS this week that the controversy occurred at such a low point in bilateral ties that, rather than damaging them, Netanyahu’s remark merely reflected how the once-strong relationship had been hollowed out amid growing hostility toward Israel in Britain.A U.K. government spokesman called Netanyahu’s remark “completely unacceptable,” adding that London had raised it with Jerusalem. Avi Dabush, an Israeli left-wing activist running for the Knesset with The Democrats Party, said Netanyahu had “mocked a critical ally” amid “unprecedented global isolation.” The Movement for Progressive Judaism in the U.K. also distanced itself from Netanyahu’s comments, saying he “doesn’t speak for U.K. Jews.”Netanyahu’s remarks followed a long decline in relations that means the…
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Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's recent sarcastic reference to the U.K. as "the Islamic Republic of Britain" did not cause a rupture in bilateral ties but rather reflected years of diplomatic and social deterioration, according to British Jewish leaders and observers. While a U.K. government spokesman called the remark "completely unacceptable," many believe the relationship was already at a low point, with Lord Stuart Polak stating, "the U.K. is no longer a friend of Israel."
- The decline in relations accelerated after October 7, 2023, and further under the Labour government led by Keir Starmer, marked by public clashes, increasingly forceful language against Israel, and Britain's recognition of a Palestinian state in September 2025.
- Other significant events include Britain sanctioning Israeli ministers in June 2025 and a diplomatic row over Israeli construction tenders in the E1 corridor.
- Despite the diplomatic strain, commercial relations remain robust, with bilateral trade in goods and services totaling approximately $6 billion annually.
- However, the deterioration is increasingly reflected in British institutions and society, with a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents and a record number of British Jews immigrating to Israel.
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