Israeli Prime Minister (PM) Benjamin Netanyahu has referred to the United Kingdom (UK) as the “Islamic Republic of Britain”, criticising British media coverage of Israel.

The remarks were made during an appearance on the Israeli podcast Melech Blitzer Haim, which aired on Thursday.

While discussing media coverage, Netanyahu cited British writer Randolph Churchill and praised his reporting on Israel during the 1967 Six-Day War.

“Go find that in Britain today, which you could call the Islamic Republic of Britain,” he said.

Later in the podcast, Netanyahu also appeared to refer to comments made by United States (US) Vice President JD Vance in 2022, when he suggested that the UK could become the first nuclear-armed “Islamist country”.

“Someone said the first Islamic republic with nuclear weapons will be the Islamic Republic of Britain,” Netanyahu said.

“We are making sure there won’t be another one here, in Iran.”

The Israeli premier’s comments drew criticism from a British and Irish Jewish organisation, whose leaders described the remarks as divisive.

“At a time when antisemitism, anti-Muslim hatred and social division are causing real fear across our country, language of this kind is dangerous and irresponsible,” said Rabbi Charley Baginsky and Rabbi Josh Lev, co-leads of the Movement for Progressive Judaism.

“Prime Minister Netanyahu does not speak for British Jews. His words do not represent us,” they added.

Gavin Barwell, who served as chief of staff to former British Prime Minister (PM) Theresa May, also criticised Netanyahu’s remarks. “Let’s hope everyone will now shed the pretence some still cling to that this man is any friend of Britain,” he wrote in a post on X.

Relations between the UK and Israel have become strained since the Labour Party returned to power in 2024.

Under former PM Keir Starmer, Britain paused free trade negotiations with Israel and suspended some arms export licences.

The UK has also imposed sanctions on Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich, joining countries including France in taking action against members of Israel’s far-right government.

Last year, Britain joined France and Canada in recognising a Palestinian state.

British PM Andy Burnham has also apologised for Labour’s initial response to Israel’s military actions in Gaza.