Netanyahu's son sparks British backlash after backing Argentina's Falklands claim: Report
Yair Netanyahu's comments prompt calls for Israel to clarify its official position on the disputed South Atlantic islands, Haaretz reports
Yair Netanyahu, son of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, has sparked a backlash from British far-right figures after backing Argentina's claim to sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, Israeli daily Haaretz reported Monday.
Yair Netanyahu wrote on the US social media company X in Spanish that the Falkland Islands belong to Argentina, calling them the “Islas Malvinas,” the name preferred by Argentina. He described the islands as “a bunch of rocks” located thousands of miles from Britain.
His comments came as he criticized the UK Labour government over what he described as “hypocrisy and hostility towards Israel,” which he also called “antisemitic.”
Rupert Lowe, leader of Britain's far-right Restore Britain party, responded by calling on Israel to clarify whether Yair Netanyahu's position reflected the position of the Israeli government.
“Following the intervention of Netanyahu's son, where he states that the Falkland Islands belong to Argentina, it is entirely legitimate to ask what the official Israeli Government position is on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands,” Lowe said on X.
Lowe also shared Yair’s post and said, “You have enough problems to be focusing on in Israel, Netanyahu. The Falkland Islands are British, and will remain that way. A Restore Britain Government will go to war if necessary to ensure it.”
Former Conservative MP and minister Conor Burns also criticized Yair in an expletive-laden post on X, writing: “Dear Nepoyahu, Piss off. Yours sincerely, Israel’s many friends in the UK (Stronger sentiment available from British subjects in the Falkland Islands).”
Argentine President Javier Milei reposted several of Yair’s posts on X. Netanyahu subsequently said his comments appeared to have “contributed to Israel-Argentina relations ... contrary to the left's propaganda.”
Nile Gardiner, a former aide to British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, who led Britain during the 1982 Falklands War, said Yair did not represent the official position of the Israeli government.
“Thankfully this is not the official position of the Israeli government. The courageous Falkland Islanders have exactly the same right to sovereignty, self-determination and freedom as the immensely brave people of Israel. The Falklands will always be British,” Gardiner wrote on X, reposting Yair’s statement.
Argentina claims sovereignty over the Falkland Islands, which it calls the Malvinas Islands, citing succession from the Spanish Crown and historical decrees, while Britain has maintained control and administration of the archipelago since 1833.
In the early 1980s, Argentina and Britain fought what became known as the Falklands War over the disputed archipelago.
The Falkland Islands consist of two main islands, East Falkland and West Falkland, along with more than 700 smaller islands. The archipelago covers about 12,200 square kilometers and lies roughly 480 kilometers off Argentina's southern coast, with an estimated coastline of about 1,300 kilometers.
