The Frivolous Fulbright Fiasco

“3 Fulbright Winners in Gaza Again Told They Can’t Travel,” A10, 8/5/08
By Ethan Bronner

This article details the U.S.’s denial of visas for three Gaza Palestinian Fulbright winners to study in America due to “unspecified security concerns.”

The entire fracas began two months ago when the State Department rejected the visas for all seven Gaza Palestinian winners due to Israel’s policy of isolating the volatile Gaza Strip and its radical rulers.

When news of this development came to light, an infuriated Condoleezza Rice demanded Israel to reconsider its “unfair” policy. As a result, four of the winners were granted visas after passing security screenings, while another three were not.

The article fails to emphasize that the ultimate decision to revoke the visas was in the hands of the U.S., not Israel. The article downplays whatever these security concerns may have been, even possible links between the winners and Hamas, a U.S.-recognized terrorist group.

It is truly amazing how such a seemingly minor issue received such significant news coverage. Overall, it seems that the State Department and New York Times are particularly comfortable subverting Israel’s security policy for the self-righteous quest of “liberating” seven Palestinian scholars. I wonder how the U.S. has dealt with Fulbright issues in other countries—I highly doubt with such zeal and inconsideration or distrust of the given country’s stated logic.