Israel Forbids Palesintians from Fullbright Scholarships

[barbaro]

GAZA — The American State Department has withdrawn all Fulbright grants to Palestinian students in Gaza hoping to pursue advanced degrees at American institutions this fall because Israel has not granted them permission to leave.

Ali Ali/European Pressphoto Agency, for The New York Times
Hadeel Abukwaik, standing, an engineering software instructor in Gaza, was in disbelief over losing her Fulbright grant.

Abdulrahman Abdullah received word on Thursday via an e-mail message in Gaza City that the American State Department had withdrawn his Fulbright grant to study in the United States.

Israel has isolated this coastal strip, which is run by the militant group Hamas. Given that policy, the United States Consulate in Jerusalem said the grant money had been “redirected” to students elsewhere out of concern that it would go to waste if the Palestinian students were forced to remain in Gaza.
A letter was sent by e-mail to the students on Thursday telling them of the cancellation. Abdulrahman Abdullah, 30, who had been hoping to study for an M.B.A. at one of several American universities on his Fulbright, was in shock when he read it.

“If we are talking about peace and mutual understanding, it means investing in people who will later contribute to Palestinian society,” he said. “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?”

Somme Israeli lawmakers, who held a hearing on the issue of student movement out of Gaza on Wednesday, expressed anger that their government was failing to promote educational and civil development in a future Palestine given the hundreds of students who had been offered grants by the United States and other Western governments.“This could be interpreted as collective punishment,” complained Rabbi Michael Melchior, chairman of the Parliament’s education committee, during the hearing. “This policy is not in keeping with international standards or with the moral standards of Jews, who have been subjected to the deprivation of higher education in the past.

Link: U.S. Withdraws Fulbright Grants to Palestinians in Gaza - NYTimes.com

[obsidian]

horribly foolish, short sighted and self defeating.

[blackgang]

You do not need a higher degree of education to strap on a dynamite vest or light the wick on home made rockets, so whats the big deal about withdrawing scholarships to terrorists.

[sabang]

So every Palestinian is a Terrorist?

[stroller]

Of course, Hamas is too moderate for the Islamist suicide bomber:

"I am against Hamas. Their acts and policies are wrong."

All them arabs are evil scum,,, from Palestine to Saudi to Iran. Aim yar rifle just couple o inch below the headtowel whenever you see one.

[matsalleh]

You do not need a higher degree of education to strap on a dynamite vest or light the wick on home made rockets, so whats the big deal about withdrawing scholarships to terrorists.

Sorry that was not the sharpest comment, I guess!

[Panda]

Just another example of collective punishment aimed at innocent civilians.
And they wonder why the radical elements gain support.

[blackgang]

So every Palestinian is a Terrorist?

Not so, but every terrorist in that part of the world is a palestinian.

[matsalleh]

So every Palestinian is a Terrorist?

Not so, but every terrorist in that part of the world is a palestinian.

Did you forget 9/11? How many Palestinians where there involved?
But on another hand, if so many Palestinians are terrorists - why are they becoming that way?
That is what you should ask yourself!

Your Government is really funny - when we here had the Junta ruling us, they had to officially reduce from investment to combined Military exercises everything - BECAUSE hey we had a non elected government.
In the Gaza stip you have an elected Government: HAMAS - rightfully elected - and all your guys waffle that they will not talk to them and call poor old Jimmy Carter a "traitor". At least he treis to solve something.

Now lets face it - your buddies from Saudi have killed more people in the US than any other terrorist organisation - and still Saudi is your main partner!

[stroller]

Not so, but every terrorist in that part of the world is a palestinian.

Wrong, as usual.
Besides, how would this justify not giving scholarships to those who are not 'terrorists'.

Both the 'fact', and the 'logic' are false in your one-sentence post.

[Panda]

Don't you just have to laugh at the way the western media portrays the Hamas government in Gaza as a rebel organization. The truth is that Hamas was elected democratically as the government of Palestine in both Gaza and west bank. The US and Israel didn't like the peoples choice so they channelled guns and money to the opposition Fatah movement to overthrow the elected government by violent force of arms. Fatah won the battle in west bank and is being rewarded by Israel and USA, while the democratically elected government retained power in Gaza and is is being punished with Israeli military incursions and a draconian blockade of essential supplies of food, medicine and power. This inhumane collective punishment of the Palestine people in Gaza has been universally condemned by the UN and humanitarian organizations around the world, (except for the US and Israeli governments of course). It seems the US wants democracy in the Middle East, but only if it produces the government they want, and they are not adverse to killing innocent civilians including women and sick little kids to get their way.
Every American and Israeli should hang their head in shame at what they are doing to the people of Gaza.

[matsalleh]

Don't you just have to laugh at the way the western media portrays the Hamas government in Gaza as a rebel organization. The truth is that Hamas was elected democratically as the government of Palestine in both Gaza and west bank. The US and Israel didn't like the peoples choice so they channelled guns and money to the opposition Fatah movement to overthrow the elected government by violent force of arms. Fatah won the battle in west bank and is being rewarded by Israel and USA, while the democratically elected government retained power in Gaza and is is being punished with Israeli military incursions and a draconian blockade of essential supplies of food, medicine and power. This inhumane collective punishment of the Palestine people in Gaza has been universally condemned by the UN and humanitarian organizations around the world, (except for the US and Israeli governments of course). It seems the US wants democracy in the Middle East, but only if it produces the government they want, and they are not adverse to killing innocent civilians including women and sick little kids to get their way.
Every American and Israeli should hang their head in shame at what they are doing to the people of Gaza.

Wikipedia comes to mind:

Bigotry

From Wikipedia,

A bigot is a person who is intolerant of opinions, lifestyles, or identities differing from his or her own, and bigotry is the corresponding ideology.

[Texpat]

horribly foolish, short sighted and self defeating.

Pretty quick to hang the wrong man, there sheriff.

Israel will not grant these students permission to leave.

Do you suggest the US leave these Fulbright Scholarships vacant -- or redirect the funds to students who can attend?

Not dismissing the possibility these students can pick up where they left off when/if they're able to attend.

[blackgang]

Did you forget 9/11? How many Palestinians where there involved? But on another hand, if so many Palestinians are terrorists - why are they becoming that way? That is what you should ask yourself!

You do seem to have problems with comprehension don't you, is it just in written language or in all of it??
Can you comprehend, "In that part of the world"?? or should I explain it to you?
And while we are on that subject of your intelligence, do you happen to know where 9/11 happened at??

The truth is that Hamas was elected democratically as the government of Palestine in both Gaza and west bank.

The United States and any other democratic govt. will not recognize any government that refuses to grant any sovereign country's right to exist,,which Hamas does not recognize Israels right to exist, and until they do they will be listed as a terrorist govt.

[matsalleh]

^ BG, why don't you just say they they (the US government) reserve the right to recognize what suits them - don't start to get out of your skin - GWB and his cronies are producing bigotry! As to what bigotry is - I hope you can comprehend the small article from Wiki!

[Texpat]

(the US government) reserve the right to recognize what suits them

Did you read the OP?

The scholarships were given to other students because Israel will not allow the students to attend. Do you also suggest these scholarships go unused? Nowhere does it suggest that rescinding these scholarships was a US idea.

Your selective reading is impairing your judgement.

[stroller]

Can you comprehend, "In that part of the world"??

Can you?
Last time I looked Saudi terrorists came from Saudi. Saudi is "in that part of the world", maybe you did not know this?

Did you read the OP?

Did you read the comment mat's '^' referred to? Your selective reading is disingenuous.

[matsalleh]

(the US government) reserve the right to recognize what suits them

Did you read the OP?

The scholarships were given to other students because Israel will not allow the students to attend. Do you also suggest these scholarships go unused? Nowhere does it suggest that rescinding these scholarships was a US idea.

Your selective reading is impairing your judgement.

TP: and you tell me that if the US of A would have asked Israel to let 'em go study, Israel would have said no? Who's selective now?

[obsidian]

horribly foolish, short sighted and self defeating.

Pretty quick to hang the wrong man, there sheriff.

Israel will not grant these students permission to leave.

Do you suggest the US leave these Fulbright Scholarships vacant -- or redirect the funds to students who can attend?

Not dismissing the possibility these students can pick up where they left off when/if they're able to attend.

squeeze the israelis by the economic nuts until they get right with god on this stupid fucking policy ( and MANY others). robbing the intelligent, hard working and clever palestinain students who won these awards the chance to study in the usa in IN NO ONES INTEREST! we are the rich uncle to this silly (much worse than this but for the sake of making a dufferent point) behaving nephew and we need to have a word of prayer with them regarding future monthly allotments.

[Panda]

[quote=Texpat;643288]

horribly foolish, short sighted and self defeating.

Pretty quick to hang the wrong man, there sheriff.

Israel will not grant these students permission to leave.

quote]

Exactly! Collective punishment endorsed by the USA.

What right has Israel got to deny students in a foreign country the right of going abroad to study?

Though I am sure it all makes sense to Tex in his twisted mind.

[Texpat]

The issue is between Israel and these students.
I'm sure there are other students attending schools outside the region that will also lose scholarships because they cannot attend.

But the NYT headline makes the US state dept out to be the bad guy.

Absolute bullshit.

[stroller]

The United States and any other democratic govt. will not recognize any government that refuses to grant any sovereign country's right to exist

The US is recognised by all democratically elected governments in the world, as far as I know. What are you talking about?

[barbaro]

You do not need a higher degree of education to strap on a dynamite vest or light the wick on home made rockets, so whats the big deal about withdrawing scholarships to terrorists.

You've just revealed your ignorance about this entire issue - again.

Do some reading. Education yourself about a topic, if you're going to post about it and offer your comments.

[barbaro]

The issue is between Israel and these students.
I'm sure there are other students attending schools outside the region that will also lose scholarships because they cannot attend.

But the NYT headline makes the US state dept out to be the bad guy.

Absolute bullshit.

I don't think the article made the US State Department out to be the "bad guy" at all.

This involved many, many, organizations and individuals.


You're not discussing the issue - you're shifting the emphasis on the article and who it "blames."


IRRELEVANT to the actual issue.

[Texpat]

Wonder if there are any students on scholarship elsewhere?

Nahh, couldn't be.

Will the headline read, Israel denies Palestinian students' education or Oxford cancels scholarships?