By Jc Reporter

Copyright thejc

The government has been urged to reverse a decision to ban Israelis from the UK’s prestigious Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) from next year. The decision was made by the Ministry of Defence because, it said: ”The Israeli Government’s decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza is wrong.” Now the shadow secretary for defence, James Cartlidge has written to Defence Secretary John Healey asking why Parliament was not informed of the decision. “Israel is a definitive ally of the UK, which is effectively at war… I’m extremely concerned at the way our world-renowned military educational establishment is being used as a political tool to appease your party’s internal divisions on issues regarding the Middle East. I urge you to withdraw this decision as soon as possible,” he wrote. The prestigious college, which is run by the MoD and trains high-ranking officers from the UK and its allies in strategic-level roles, has never before issued a blanket ban on applicants from an allied state. “UK military educational courses have long been open to personnel from a wide range of countries, with all UK military courses emphasising compliance with international humanitarian law,” the MoD told the JC. “However, the Israeli Government’s decision to further escalate its military operation in Gaza is wrong. “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.” The MoD confirmed that the ban will not affect current students and said that fewer than five IDF personnel are currently enrolled in UK-based training courses. A further letter was sent to the Defence Minister by a group of Conservative MPs and peers, including Suella Braverman and Lord Polak. They said: “We are concerned that the move may set a precedent that other countries may follow, similarly restricting defence or academic exchanges based on political disagreements. That could reduce mutual understanding and dialogue across the board in ways that harm British interests in the long run.” The decision has been criticised by college alumni Amir Baram, the director-general of Israel’s Defence Ministry. In a letter to the MoD, first reported by the Daily Telegraph, Baram described the ban as “discriminatory” and a “profoundly dishonourable act of disloyalty to an ally at war”. He wrote: “[It is a] disgraceful break with Britain’s proud tradition of tolerance – and plain decency”. “[Israel is] defending international shipping from Houthi aggression, preventing nuclear weapons from falling into the hands of an Islamist regime that chants ‘Death to England’, and fighting to bring home 48 hostages from Hamas captivity. “The establishment’s response is to silence Israeli voices… Frankly, Israel’s exclusion is nothing less than an act of self-sabotage of British security.” The Israeli embassy in London has echoed Baram’s view that the move is discriminatory. A spokesperson said: “The Embassy of Israel notes with profound regret the Ministry of Defence’s decision to ban future Israeli participants from the Royal College of Defence Studies. This decision is discriminatory, unnecessary, and runs counter to Israel and Britain’s long and proud tradition of cooperation and dialogue. “We would urge the Government to reexamine the decision and to uphold the spirit in which the Royal College was founded: to build bridges through dialogue, not to close doors.”