LONDON: The UK government has announced that, due to ongoing Israeli attacks on Gaza, enrollment of Israeli students at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) will be prohibited starting next year. This is the first time the academy will not accept Israeli students. Amir Baram, the Director General of the Israeli Ministry of Defense and an alumnus of the academy, called the decision a “shameful betrayal” and “discriminatory,” stating that sidelining Israel is a self-destructive move for the security of the UK. A spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defense stated that the academy’s training courses are open to personnel from “a wide range of countries” and emphasize the importance of adhering to international humanitarian law. The spokesperson added that Israel’s decision to escalate military operations in Gaza is misguided, and there is a need for a diplomatic solution that includes an immediate ceasefire, the return of hostages, and humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza. The Royal United Services Institute focuses its advanced studies on “political, diplomatic, security, social, and economic issues at a strategic level” and is primarily practical in nature. Each year, around 110 domestic and international students participate in the program, with notable alumni including Allen Francis Brooke and Pervez Musharraf. Many senior Israeli commanders, including Amir Baram and Avichai Adrai, the spokesperson for the Israeli army, have also studied at this academy. The institute was founded in 1927 based on Winston Churchill’s vision to “promote greater understanding among senior military officers, diplomats, and civil servants.”
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