UK’s ambassador to Israel knighted in queen’s birthday honor

Tom Phillips appointed a KCMG (Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St.

By JONNY PAUL
tom phililps 311 (photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
tom phililps 311
(photo credit: Ariel Jerozolimski)
LONDON – Britain’s Ambassador to Israel Tom Phillips has received a knighthood in Queen Elizabeth’s birthday honors list, announced on Saturday.
Phillips has been appointed a KCMG (Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George) by the queen and will receive the honor in a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace in London later this year.
Phillips is leaving Israel this summer after four years as ambassador, and will be replaced by Matthew Gould, who will be Britain’s first Jewish ambassador to Israel. Gould is due to arrive in September.
“I feel very moved,” said Phillips. “If this honor is anything to do with my time here, then the credit should be shared with all of my embassy team who have given me such wonderful support.”
Two other former British Embassy staffers in Israel received honors. Former defense attaché Col. Mark Rollo-Walker received a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire), while former director of UK Trade and Investment at the embassy, Peter Stephenson, was made an OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire).
The British honors system is one of the oldest in the world, evolving over 650 years. Honors lists are published twice a year, on New Year’s Day and on the queen’s official birthday.
Anyone can receive an award if they reach the required standard of merit or service and honors. Honor lists often contain a wide variety of people from different backgrounds.