Israelis will be barred from enrolling at a prestigious government-run defence studies institute in London over the war in Gaza, UK media reported Monday.
The Royal College of Defence Studies, which is overseen by the defence ministry, will bar Israeli students from next year, according to The Times and Telegraph newspapers.
The post-graduate college part of the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom offers training for 鈥榮trategic thinkers and leaders within the armed forces and civil service鈥�, according to its website, with international students allowed to study specific courses.
A UK Ministry of Defence official in June confirmed to parliament that the college was providing 鈥榥on-combat academic courses鈥� to 鈥榝ewer than five鈥� members of the Israeli military.
The ministry did not immediately reply to an AFP request for comment.
But Amir Baram, the director general of Israel鈥檚 defence ministry who studied at the college, slammed the decision as a 鈥榙iscriminatory act鈥� and 鈥榙isloyalty to an ally at war鈥�.
鈥楩rankly, Israel鈥檚 exclusion is nothing less than an act of self-sabotage of British security,鈥� Baram, also a senior Israeli army military official, reportedly wrote in a letter to the UK defence ministry.
Britain has suspended some arms export licences to Israel for weapons used in Gaza, but some UK-made parts, such as components for Israeli F-35 warplanes, were exempt.
Last week, Israeli officials were banned from attending a major arms fair in London as prime minister Keir Starmer tries to put some distance between his government and Israel鈥檚 war against Hamas.
However, 51 Israeli weapons companies still attended the show, including major arms manufacturer Elbit, prompting a pro-Palestinian protest outside the exhibition.
London has slammed Israel鈥檚 latest push to escalate its nearly two-year-long military offensive in Gaza as 鈥榳rong鈥�.
