This interesting piece from the New York Times shows the extent to which the State Department is controlled by Israel policy and how Israeli policy is followed by the State Department. This is not Mearshirmer and Walt speaking here. This is the State Department confirming the thesis of overbearing Zionist control of American foreign policy.
Friday, May 30, 2008
GAZA — The American State Department has withdrawn all Fulbright grants to Palestinian students in Gaza hoping to pursue advanced degrees at American institutions this fall because Israel has not granted them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.
Jewish Voice for Peace was so appalled by this action that it issued this plea:
Today the news reported that the U.S. State Department has withdrawn the prestigious Fulbright grant from seven Palestinian students who live in the Gaza Strip because Israel will not give these students exit visas to leave the country. The Fulbright grants – which are funded by our tax dollars and issued through the State Department – would enable these students to earn advanced degrees abroad. The Israeli government controls Gaza’s borders and sees all Palestinians as threats to Israel, including these students; as yet, the United States government has not used its leverage to demand that Israel release just a handful of exceptional students from the prison created by the Siege on Gaza.
One student who lost the Fulbright because he was denied the visa, Abdulrahman Abdullah, was quoted in the New York Times saying “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?”
Even some Israeli lawmakers are disturbed by Israel’s actions. Rabbi Michael Melchior, chairman of the Knesset’s education committee, said, “This could be interpreted as collective punishment…This policy is not in keeping with international standards.” Further, he invoked the traumas of Jewish history, saying that Israel’s actions are not in line “with the moral standards of Jews, who have been subjected to the deprivation of higher education in the past.”
We can learn from the past; this tragedy can still be reversed. The Fulbright grants are controlled by our State Department. Condoleeza Rice said today she would “investigate” this issue.
The latest from Reuters indicates that Rice may be pressuring Israel to relent:
U.S. presses Israel on Gaza students’ exit visas
WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The United States pressed Israel on Friday to let seven Gaza Strip Palestinians travel to the United States to study on coveted U.S. government Fulbright fellowships and Israel said it was working on the issue.
(snip)
The U.S. State Department this week told the seven that their Fulbright grants had been withdrawn and it has taken steps to be able to direct the money to other Palestinians in the West Bank because of the trouble getting the exit visas from Gaza.
However, after The New York Times published a report on the issue on Friday, U.S. officials said they were redoubling their efforts to get the Israeli exit visas for the students.
Let’s hope that this happens. In the meantime, if you have the time and inclination, please email Condolezza Rice by CLICKING HERE.
Encourage her to insist that Israel issue the necessary exit visas so that these students can receive the opportunities they deserve. This is also one small but important way to open a window into the prison that Gaza has become. Condi along with Bush failed to bring peace to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Let’s see if she can at least handle this smaller detail of getting a small group of outstanding Gaza based Palestinian students into the US on Fulbright scholarships. It is, after all, our tax money.