PCHR Denounces Gaza Ministry of Education’s Decision to Prevent Students Having Scholarships to Study in USA from Leaving Gaza
By:Tony Greenstein
It’s unbelievable. After Israel has come under attack for preventing Gazan students taking up Fulbright and other scholarships abroad, thus denying Palestinian youth educational opportunities, the backwoodsmen of Hamas, who look back to the 7th Century whilst retaining their grip on power with 21st century means, have effectively colluded with the Zionists.
It is understandable that Hamas, which believes all wisdom resides in ancient texts (although its weaponry is of a more recent vintage) doesn’t like modern education. Such is the nature of most religious groups and Hamas is not exceptional. Indeed it is only the fight against Israel and Zionism which keeps Hamas relatively tamed in its approach to the civilian population of Gaza. There is no doubt that if it could get away with it, it would emulate the Iranian dictatorship – only more so. Despite the fact that Hamas in Gaza is now an unelected dictatorship, like Abbas its mandate has run out since the beginning of last year, they have no hesitation in laying down the law to those they govern.
It is easy to forget that Hamas arose in the 1980’s, when the West sponsored Political Islam as a bulwark against Communism. In Afghanistan the US sponsored the Mujahadeen. Even James Bond got into the act with a film, Living Daylights, which had the Islamic fighter as its hero under a Lawrence of Arabia figure. Hamas was similarly sponsored and indeed helped with its birth pangs by the Israeli state, as a counter-weight against the secular Palestinian nationalists. Politically there is nothing progressive about the Hamas regime and its preventing Palestinian students from taking up the few educational opportunities abroad should not be seen as unremarkable.
We should join the call of the PHRC in calling for this decision of the Middle Ages to be reversed.
