UK Military College Reconsiders Relationship with Israeli Students

British Ministry of Defence Announces Ban on Israeli Participation in Military College

The Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) has banned Israelis from attending its courses following the UK government’s decision to restrict participation due to concerns over Israel’s military actions in Gaza.

In September last year, the Ministry of Defence announced the ban after Israel unveiled plans for a major ground assault on Gaza City. The British government made this decision amid international condemnation of Israel’s escalation of the war.

According to emails obtained by Al Jazeera through a Freedom of Information request, the RCDS leadership sought to distance the institution from the decision. Commandant George Norton asked Lieutenant General Tom Copinger-Symes, a senior military official, for assistance in shaping the public narrative on the ban.

Norton requested that Copinger-Symes help clarify that the college does not select participants for its courses and that invitations are typically a government-to-government matter. The emails suggest that the RCDS leadership aimed to address concerns about the institution’s reputation as a welcoming college that engages with diverse perspectives.

The UK development minister, Jenny Chapman, was prepared to answer questions about the ban in the House of Lords, but did not specifically state that the college had no role in selecting participants for courses. An MOD spokesperson stated that decisions on military education and training are made by the government on a case-by-case basis, following robust assessment of benefits and risks.

The RCDS has declined to comment on the matter. The UK’s relationship with Israel has been strained due to Israel’s actions in Gaza, which have been widely condemned as genocidal.

Source: Al Jazeera