U.S. Tries to Open Door to Gaza Scholars
Reinstates Fulbrights for Palestinians, asks Israel to let students leave Gaza.
June 1, 2008— -- Abdulrahman Abdullah's dream of studying in the United States seemed to be just that -- a dream.
The 30-year-old was one of seven young Palestinians from the Gaza Strip who won a prestigious U.S. Fulbright scholarship, and he had hoped to earn an MBA at Michigan State.
His hopes were dashed last week when the United States announced it had decided to drop the scholarship because Israel would not grant visas for the students to leave Gaza.
But today, the United States reversed that decision, and the U.S. consulate sent e-mails to the seven scholarship winners in Gaza, telling them that it is "working closely" with the Israeli government to get them permits to leave Gaza in order to attend visa interviews at the U.S. consulate in Jerusalem, and then to leave Gaza again for travel to the United States.
For Abdullah, the decision would seem to remove the biggest roadblock in what has been a four-year effort to win a Fulbright and study in the United States. He first applied for the scholarship in 2004, but did not win one until this year.
"I wasn't unhappy about it then," he told ABC News, regarding his unsuccessful application. "I knew the other candidates were better than me. So, I decided to try harder. But this time it's different. To be successful and then not be able to go, because I can't get a visa? I can't believe it."
On Friday, the U.S. State Department -- following media reports of Abdullah's case -- said it would review the decision to drop the scholarships and Israel would be asked to reconsider the granting of visas.
Israel has tightened restrictions on freedom of movement since Hamas took power in Gaza in June 2007. That blockade has become even tighter since January, and permits are now only granted for urgent humanitarian cases, including those needing medical care in better equipped Israeli hospitals.
"Education is not as urgent as the need for medical care," said Arieh Mekel from the Israeli foreign ministry when contacted by ABC News.
"The problem is in Gaza and with the people of Gaza who voted for Hamas," Mekel said. "We do what we can, but while Gaza is still ruled by Hamas, and while rockets are still being fired at Israelis, Palestinian students seeking education are not a priority."
