Yair Netanyahu, Israeli PM’s son, angers UK right over Falklands comment

Comments by Yair Netanyahu, the son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, backing Argentina’s claim to the British-controlled Falkland Islands have caused an unlikely row with Britain’s right wing – one of the United Kingdom’s last reliable pro-Israel groups.

The younger Netanyahu waded into the longrunning territorial dispute over the South Atlantic archipelago last week, writing on X in Spanish: “The Falkland Islands belong to Argentina.”

Britain and Argentina fought a war over the islands in 1982 and continue to dispute their sovereignty.

In follow-up posts, he said that Israel should support Argentina’s claim because the Argentinian government, under far-right President Javier Milei, is more friendly to Israel.

He accused the UK of “hypocrisy and hostility towards Israel with their recognition of ‘Palestine’”, as well as of perpetuating “antisemitism” and “blood libels”.

His comments came days before United States President Donald Trump, also a close ally of Milei, said the US was reviewing its stance on the Falklands.

While Yair Netanyahu’s remarks appeared intended as a shot at the UK’s Labour government, which includes both centre-left and left-wing politicians, they have also angered right-wing British figures who are typically pro-Israel.

Rupert Lowe, head of the far-right Restore Britain party, responded directly to him on X, saying that the Falklands would “remain” British and that a UK government led by his party would “go to war if necessary to ensure it”.