Israel's isolation of the Gaza strip has prompted the US State Department to withdraw all Fulbright grants to Palestinian students. Because only those with the most urgent medical needs can leave the Hamas-run region, American officials are worried that their educational funding will be wasted on those that will not be able to leave to attend American institutions.
Fulbrights, educational grants awarded by the US government, fund international educational exchange, in order to foster mutual understanding between Americans and citizens of other countries.
One shocked Palestinian scholar views the decision as counterproductive to American and Israeli goals, as well as ultimate peace. To see what he told the New York Times and to find out if there is any possibility that visas will be granted, read more.
Abdulrahman Abdullah, whose scholarship was revoked, said:
If we are talking about peace and mutual understanding, it means investing in people who will later contribute to Palestinian society. I am against Hamas. Their acts and policies are wrong. Israel talks about a Palestinian state. But who will build that state if we can get no training?
Today, the State Department spokesman said that the US will try to "revisit the issue" with Israel. Dissenters within the Israeli government have called for a reconsideration of the isolation policy, as applied to students.
Is higher education a humanitarian concern? Do you think something can be worked out to help these students go abroad, and bring their experiences back to better Palestine?
DAY Birger et Mikkelsen
Betty Jackson
BDL by Ben de Lisi
We should be able to pressure Israel to let the students leave the region - it's appalling to me that we would revoke the grants. By honoring Israel's blockade, we're telling the Palestinian students that they don't matter. Israel and Washington can blame it on Hamas, but the Palestinians (and others) are going to see it as our using hardline tactics to dictate their future. We're screwing an opportunity, again.
1I agree, Stephley!
2Why couldn't we just freeze the grants until the students are able to attend school? Or pressure Israel to allow us to escort the students directly to their universities? I have to think that even if you believe Palestinians to be the problem in the area, education can do nothing but improve chances for a peaceful future.
3I have a feeling that all this press might get the Americans and Israelis to change their minds.
4Is anyone even pretending to think in this administration any more or are they all just drooling into a cup?
5the second one.
6Yes, spokesperson, you better be thinking about "revisiting" the issue.
7Just pile the horrors on these students.
8Thank you, Israel and US for supporting them. Such blockades are no solution to anything. I reallly hope they change their minds.
9This whole peace thing is such a farce. I've been hearing that nonsense since I was a child & now I'm an adult. Israel'Gov't doesn't want peace. never have & never will. Peace is their greatest fear. If they really wanted peace they would not do everything they could to enrage their neighboring countries (ie flying over & dropping bombs on whatever they suspect? can you imagine Mexico or Canada doing so crap like that to the US?) and the Palestinians they've been oppressing for the last 60 yrs in their own land. Yet that's exactly what they have done. They want peace yet they continue to this day to build the wall and build more settlements in the occupied territorie. Give me a break. The US has enabled them in every vile thing they have done to those people. It's trully a shame.
10It may interest you to know that more than one hundred concerned Fulbrighters, past and present, have signed an open letter to the State Department asking it to reconsider its decision to cancel the Fulbright grants of the students in Gaza. The letter can be viewed here: http://gazafulbright.blogspot.com/
11It's a good letter, I hope it helps.
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