Netanyahu says UK government has 'gone rogue' after RAF Fairford plot, but calls Britain an ally
In an interview with the Daily Mail, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu criticised Andy Burnham's government as acting like a "rogue state" and said Israeli intelligence helped stop an Iranian-sponsored attack on RAF Fairford. He also said Britain remains an ally.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 2Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the Daily Mail, in an interview published on Saturday 3 October, that the British government under Prime Minister Andy Burnham has "gone rogue, like a rogue state". The Jerusalem PostRC “In order to ingratiate itself with its political base, [the British government] has gone rogue. Like a rogue state,” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ GB NewsR “he warned the British Government has "gone rogue, like a rogue state".” Read at GB News ↗ Right · 1GB News reported his words as accusing Labour of acting like a "rogue state appeasing an Islamist-leftist alliance". GB NewsR “Benjamin Netanyahu has accused Britain's Labour Government of acting like a "rogue state appeasing an Islamist-leftist alliance" under Prime Minister Andy Burnham.” Read at GB News ↗ Right · 2Netanyahu said Israel had warned Britain of an Iranian-sponsored attack before the suspected plot at RAF Fairford, something he had earlier said in a Fox News interview. He said the attack "was stopped" and that without Israeli help "it would probably have gone through, and we don't know how many British lives would have been lost". The Jerusalem PostRC “"It was stopped. It was prevented," Netanyahu told The Daily Mail, adding that without Israel's help, "it would probably have gone through, and we don't know how many British lives would have been lost."” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ GB NewsR “Mr Netanyahu had previously told Fox News that Israel had given Britain "intel" there was going to be "an Iranian-sponsored attack".” Read at GB News ↗
Right · 1GB News reported that a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national was arrested on suspicion of a terror offence, and that five men in their 20s from London were arrested on suspicion of explosives offences, later terror offences, and released on police bail earlier this week. GB NewsR “Police arrested a 25-year-old dual UK-Iranian national on suspicion of a terror offence in relation to the incident last week.”“The five men - all in their 20s and from London - were released on police bail earlier this week.” Read at GB News ↗ Right · 1GB News also reported that Burnham told it there are "strong indications" Iran played a part in the security scare, while Iran has categorically denied involvement. GB NewsR “Andy Burnham told GB News there are "strong indications" Iran played a part in the security scare.”“The Islamic Republic has categorically denied involvement in the terror plot.” Read at GB News ↗ Right · 1Netanyahu linked his anger to UK policy on Israel: GB News said he was incensed when the UK banned trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank last month, saying "The next day, they slapped sanctions on us". It said Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband had confirmed plans for sanctions as part of a "comprehensive reset" in relations. GB NewsR “But he was left incensed when the UK decided to ban trade with Israeli settlements on the West Bank last month: "The next day, they slapped sanctions on us," he said.”“Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband had confirmed plans for sanctions on Israel as part of a "comprehensive reset" in relations.” Read at GB News ↗
Right · 1Netanyahu called the relationship "not very good" and described British policy as "mind-blowing hypocrisy", saying the UK appeases its enemies and attacks its protectors. He also said Britain would "lose Britain" if it did not regain control of its borders, though there was "still time for Britain to recover". The Jerusalem PostRC “"It's mind-blowing hypocrisy; I don't know how many lives we have saved by giving Britain information about impending attacks,"”“There's still time for Britain to recover, to regain its senses.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 2He nonetheless said Israel will "always consider Britain as an ally" despite differences. Asked whether intelligence sharing would continue, he said he "wouldn't get into that". GB NewsR “Mr Netanyahu said Israel will "always consider Britain as an ally, even though we have, on occasion, differences with them,"” Read at GB News ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “When asked if the intelligence-sharing relationship would continue amid the current tensions, Netanyahu said that he "wouldn't get into that,"” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1GB News noted that Netanyahu has not yet spoken with Burnham since Burnham took office in July. Neither article carries a response from the UK government to the interview. GB NewsR “who is yet to speak with the Labour leader since he assumed office in July” Read at GB News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Both outlets relay Netanyahu's Daily Mail interview. GB News leads with the 'rogue state' charge against Burnham's Labour government; the Jerusalem Post leads with 'Britain still an ally' alongside the criticism.
- Emphasis
- Netanyahu's own words on appeasement, Israeli intelligence saving British lives, and borders; GB News adds police arrests and the UK sanctions context.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither carries a UK government reply or independent verification of Israel's intelligence claim; the Jerusalem Post omits the police and sanctions detail.
- Charged language
- “rogue state appeasing an Islamist-leftist alliance”“mind-blowing hypocrisy”“did not mince his words”“fumed”
- For example
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“The Israeli Prime Minister did not mince his words as he spoke in response to the terror plot at RAF Fairford last week.” — GB News
“Netanyahu says 'Britain still an ally of Israel,' even if gov't 'appeases our enemies, attacks us'” — The Jerusalem Post
What every side reports
- Netanyahu gave a Daily Mail interview published 3 October criticising the UK government.
- He said Israel warned Britain about an Iranian-sponsored attack before the RAF Fairford plot and that it was stopped.
- He said he still regards Britain as an ally despite differences.
- He said the UK has 'gone rogue, like a rogue state'.
Where accounts differ
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Role of Israeli intelligence and Iran's involvement
- Right
- Netanyahu says Israeli intelligence prevented an Iranian-sponsored attack; GB News notes Burnham sees 'strong indications' of Iranian involvement while Iran categorically denies it. Neither article has independent confirmation of Israel's role.
Benjamin Netanyahu person
Says the UK government appeases Islamist forces and attacks Israel, that Israeli intelligence helped prevent the Fairford attack, but that Britain remains an ally.
“They appease their enemies, and they attack their protectors.” — The Jerusalem Post
“Mr Netanyahu said Israel will "always consider Britain as an ally” — GB News
Andy Burnham person
Told GB News there are 'strong indications' Iran played a part in the security scare; no direct response to Netanyahu is reported.
“Andy Burnham told GB News there are "strong indications" Iran played a part in the security scare.” — GB News
UK and Ireland1 outlet
GB News stresses the attack on Burnham's government and ties it to the Fairford arrests and UK sanctions.
“But he was left incensed when the UK decided to ban trade with Israeli settlements on the West Bank last month” — GB News
GB News
Israel1 outlet
The Jerusalem Post foregrounds that Netanyahu still calls Britain an ally and quotes his wider remarks on Islamists and Western civilisation.
“Finally, Netanyahu said that, even if there are some differences, Britain is considered an ally of Israel.” — The Jerusalem Post
The Jerusalem Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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GB NewsR ·
Mixed Leads with Netanyahu's most forceful attack on Burnham, with arrests and sanctions context, largely without UK rebuttal.
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Netanyahu says 'Britain still an ally of Israel,' even if gov't 'appeases our enemies, attacks us'
Neutral Reports the interview at length, leading with the 'still an ally' framing and then the rogue-state warning.
- 3 Oct 09:44 First GB NewsR Benjamin Netanyahu brands Andy Burnham's Britain 'rogue state appeasing an Islamist-leftist alliance'
- 3 Oct 13:54 +4h 10m The Jerusalem PostRC Netanyahu says 'Britain still an ally of Israel,' even if gov't 'appeases our enemies, attacks us'
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.