Just a month after making a fuss over Israel preventing a group of Palestinian Fulbright scholars from leaving Gaza, the US last week decided to revoke the visas it had given to the Arabs because, as Israel originally pointed out, they pose a security threat.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, US State Department spokesman Gonzalo Gallegos said that the visas had been suddenly rescinded after the US received additional information regarding the Palestinian recipients.
Gallegos refused to elaborate on the nature of that information, though those familiar with the Mideast situation had little trouble putting 2 and 2 together.
Every year the State Department issues a number of Fulbright scholarships to outstanding foreign students who are invited to continue their education at American universities.
When Israel refused to allow three Gaza-based Palestinian recipients to exit the coastal territory for an interview at the US Consulate in Jerusalem in June, Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice personally berated Israel and demanded that it let the students into its capital.