Prestigious British military academy bans Israeli students

The director general of Israel’s Ministry of Defence has condemned a decision by one of the UK’s most distinguished military institutions to ban Israelis from attending next year because of the ongoing conflict in Gaza. 

As reported by The Telegraph, Major General Amir Baram (retd.), an alumnus of the Royal College of Defence Studies, wrote to the school, warning that “the nation that gave us Churchill’s immortal pledge: ‘we shall never surrender’ now risks practising the very same appeasement he warned against.”

The RCDS, which was founded by Churchill in 1927, is part of the UK’s Defence Academy, overseen by the Ministry of Defence. A UK Defence Ministry spokesman told The Telegraph that Israel’s move to “escalate” Gaza war was the reason for the ban.

They added that while British defence programmes were open to personnel from a “wide range of countries, with all UK military courses emphasizing compliance with international humanitarian law… the Israeli government’s decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza is wrong.”

The spokesman said: “there must be a diplomatic solution to end this war now, with an immediate ceasefire, the return of the hostages, and a surge in humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza.”

Baram’s letter described the move as a “discriminatory act” that amounted to a “disgraceful break with Britain’s proud tradition of tolerance – and plain decency”.

House of Lords peer and former student at the academy, Lord Walney, also censured the decision, describing it as  “absurd”.

He went on to say: “During my year at the Royal College of Defence Studies, 2015-2016, I studied alongside an officer from *China*.

“This selective demonisation of our key ally will hurt British security more than Israel.”

Israel’s Elbit Systems, one of the world’s largest defence contractors, is a named sponsor of The Royal College of Defence Studies post-graduate degree level course in strategic leadership and international strategic studies, offered annually to four parliamentarians.

Jewish News has contacted both The Royal College of Defence Studies and Elbit for comment.