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Gaza siege keeps graduate student from attending program in the US

Abed Al Hadi Basheer is being prevented from attending gradutate school at Washington State University because Israel will not allow him to leave Gaza in order to attend his student visa interview in Jerusalem. The only possible bright side to this story is that it is exposing more Americans to Israel’s collective punishment of ordinary Gazans. From the WSU paper The Daily Evergreen:

“I am just waiting for a miracle,” Basheer said in an e-mail to The Daily Evergreen. “I called Amnesty International, raised the issue in Israeli court, and even called the Gisha organization in Tel Aviv. Nothing new (has) happened.” According to the organization’s website, Gisha is a nonprofit organization aimed at protecting “freedom of movement” for Palestinians in Gaza. The organization is just one of many advocacy groups trying to end Israel’s blockade on the region.

“International law says (Israel) can’t have a blockade the way they are doing it,” said Michael Hayes, associate professor of teaching and learning at WSU. “There have been international protests and a variety of other things that protest the blockade.” Hayes said he met Basheer while working on a project with students in Gaza. Basheer’s interaction with Hayes is what motivated him to apply to WSU’s graduate program.

“Michael Hayes was surprised that the embassy refused to grant (the) visa,” Basheer said. “All I can do now (is) draw my appeal.” WSU contacted local government representatives and the American consulate with Basheer’s case, Hayes said.

“Senators (Maria) Cantwell and (Patty) Murray have written very supportive letters to the American consulate,” he said. “We’re trying to apply pressure wherever pressure can be applied.” In an attempt to draw support, Basheer created a Facebook page called “Free voice from Gaza, ‘Help Abed AlHadi bASHEER’” that has attracted 375 members.

“This is my last chance to come to (WSU) in the spring,” Basheer said. “(Representatives) of Washington are the only people who can help me (by) calling the embassy. I am ready to start studying.”

 

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