Fulbright scholarships restored to 7 Gaza students
- added June 2, 2008
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The U.S. has reinstated the Fulbright scholarships of seven Gaza Strip students blocked by Israel from leaving the Hamas-ruled territory, according to a letter obtained by The Associated Press.
The students were informed Thursday that their scholarships for the upcoming academic year would be deferred because they couldn't get out of Gaza, which Israel blockaded after Islamic Hamas militants seized power a year ago.
A letter dated Sunday from the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem said officials were working to secure exit permits so the students could continue the visa and university placement process.
"We are working very closely with the Government of Israel in order to secure its cooperation in this matter," the letter said. Consulate officials would not comment Monday beyond confirming the letter's authenticity.
On Monday, Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev indicated the problem would be solved.
Israel, he added, "sincerely hopes that it will be possible to get the students out by the beginning of the coming academic year."
Israel allows pressing humanitarian cases to leave Gaza, but officials say students are not included in that definition. Some 500 students and their dependents have been allowed to leave over the past year. But exit permits have dried up in recent months in the wake of militant attacks on Israel, according to an Israeli human rights group, Gisha, which has been helping Gaza students leave for studies abroad.
Gisha director Sari Bashi welcomed the U.S. consulate's pledge to help the students. Gisha "calls on Israel to allow all students with scholarships trapped in Gaza to leave and study abroad," she told the AP.
The U.S. started appealing to Israel on Friday. The lobbying included a call from the No. 3 State Department official to Israel's ambassador in Washington on Friday morning.
State Department spokesman Tom Casey told reporters on Friday that the U.S. objected to the Israeli decision and "they heard our concerns."
[Picture: Palestinian student Hadeel Abu Kawik is seen at her home in Gaza City, Friday, May 30, 2008. Abu Kawik, 23, is one of seven Gaza students hoping to have a Fulbright scholarship restored. Associated Press photo.]
The students were informed Thursday that their scholarships for the upcoming academic year would be deferred because they couldn't get out of Gaza, which Israel blockaded after Islamic Hamas militants seized power a year ago.
A letter dated Sunday from the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem said officials were working to secure exit permits so the students could continue the visa and university placement process.
"We are working very closely with the Government of Israel in order to secure its cooperation in this matter," the letter said. Consulate officials would not comment Monday beyond confirming the letter's authenticity.
On Monday, Israeli government spokesman Mark Regev indicated the problem would be solved.
Israel, he added, "sincerely hopes that it will be possible to get the students out by the beginning of the coming academic year."
Israel allows pressing humanitarian cases to leave Gaza, but officials say students are not included in that definition. Some 500 students and their dependents have been allowed to leave over the past year. But exit permits have dried up in recent months in the wake of militant attacks on Israel, according to an Israeli human rights group, Gisha, which has been helping Gaza students leave for studies abroad.
Gisha director Sari Bashi welcomed the U.S. consulate's pledge to help the students. Gisha "calls on Israel to allow all students with scholarships trapped in Gaza to leave and study abroad," she told the AP.
The U.S. started appealing to Israel on Friday. The lobbying included a call from the No. 3 State Department official to Israel's ambassador in Washington on Friday morning.
State Department spokesman Tom Casey told reporters on Friday that the U.S. objected to the Israeli decision and "they heard our concerns."
[Picture: Palestinian student Hadeel Abu Kawik is seen at her home in Gaza City, Friday, May 30, 2008. Abu Kawik, 23, is one of seven Gaza students hoping to have a Fulbright scholarship restored. Associated Press photo.]
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- ajwashington
- 2 months ago
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