The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that fewer than five members of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) are currently enrolled on non-combat military academic courses in the UK, following renewed parliamentary scrutiny of UK-Israel defence engagement.
In a written response to Rachael Maskell MP, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Defence Luke Pollard clarified the nature of the ongoing training: “Fewer than five IDF personnel are currently enrolled in non-combat military academic courses in the UK.”
He added that the provision of such training is assessed carefully: “The UK has a long history of providing assistance to other nations in the security and justice fields and continues to do so around the world. The Ministry of Defence’s provision of such assistance is assessed carefully on a case-by-case basis.”
Pollard also reiterated that British values underpin all such activity: “UK training courses promote British values, including human rights, democracy and compliance with international humanitarian law.”
The confirmation comes in the context of continued parliamentary interest, including questions about whether UK international humanitarian law (IHL) assessments are taken into account when offering training to Israeli forces. It also follows the British Government’s announcement of sanctions targeting certain members of the Israeli government, prompting further questions about the UK’s defence cooperation posture.
In response to a separate question from Will Forster MP, Pollard noted that training policies remain under review: “The Ministry of Defence keeps under careful consideration its policies on training courses. We currently provide non-combat academic courses to fewer than five IDF personnel.”
As previously reported by the UK Defence Journal, the UK routinely provides military education and training to international partners, including NATO allies and selected non-NATO states, through institutions such as the Defence Academy and the Royal College of Defence Studies. These engagements are typically designed to foster professional development, interoperability, and the promotion of shared values.
No further details have been disclosed about the duration or content of the courses attended by Israeli personnel.
Is this the basis of all the heat recently about ‘Britain training IDF’? Secondly ‘fewer than 5’, just say 4 or less.
Fewer than 5 and 4 or less is the same amount of words.
One less syllable.
If you said that phrase 25 times over the course of your life, you’d save about 4.2 seconds. Time is money, Dern.