Fulbright Scholars – They Really WERE a Special Case

There is no “Palestine” and it is a mistake for the State Department to treat Palestinian- controlled territory as if it is sovereign. Israel is the security guarantor of both Israelis and Palestinians in areas that the IDF can reach – and along the border of the places it can no longer reach on a day-to-day basis. It is foolish in the extreme for Americans to believe that Palestinians selected by Hamas or by Fatah for American scholarships, visas or military training are what they say they are.

There is no “Palestine” and it is a mistake for the State Department to treat Palestinian- controlled territory as if it is sovereign. Israel is the security guarantor of both Israelis and Palestinians in areas that the IDF can reach – and along the border of the places it can no longer reach on a day-to-day basis. It is foolish in the extreme for Americans to believe that Palestinians selected by Hamas or by Fatah for American scholarships, visas or military training are what they say they are. People in both organizations are dedicated to the violent destruction of America’s friend and ally, Israel. If America is going to have a relationship with Palestinians, it is right – and only practical – that the United States be cognizant of Israeli security concerns.

Two months ago, we told the story of seven young men from Gaza awarded Fulbright Scholarships by the State Department to study in the United States. Israel, not having been informed that they were supposed to be scholars, denied them exit visas. Secretary of State Rice was furious with Israel – “livid” was the word an anonymous State Department employee used – and intervened personally.

We were livid as well – in all of the world, the State Department went to the one place a Fulbright selection official was attacked and three young men in his security detail killed by terrorists. The case remains unsolved. And to choose people from Hamas-controlled territory makes mockery of the State Department position that we boycott Hamas and want to “strengthen Abu Mazen.” (Yes, it is an unworkable policy, but it is their policy, so go with it for now.) And finally, even though Israel was not told that these men were selected for scholarship, the State Department said Israel “should have known that these were a special case.” In light of the number of young men going to Iran from Gaza for military training, including missile training, Israel was right to worry.

It turns out the Gazans were, in fact, “a special case.”

Three of the seven have had their American visas revoked after the State Department received “additional information” according to a spokesman for the Department. Another man, enrolled in a different American program also had his visa revoked. One of them had reached Washington’s Dulles International Airport before he was turned back.

Here, as they say, is the rest of the story.

According to an Israeli news source, Dr. Rice’s fury was prompted by Israel’s refusal to let three of the seven Gazans travel to Jerusalem to be interviewed for their scholarships, citing “security concerns.” Four others were permitted. American officials went to the Israel-Gaza border to meet the three and issued their visas. Post hoc, however, the State Department spokesman said, “We decided that we needed to take a closer, harder look at them.” The story doesn’t say where they got the additional information to take this “closer, harder look,” but we can safely guess.

We can also safely guess which three of the seven were revoked.