The State Department revoked the visas of three Palestinian Fulbright scholars from Gaza. According to the NY Times, the cancellation was due to unspecified “security concerns.”
The affair is a great example of how Western media coverage can indirectly force Israel to act against its own interests. In June, Israel originally refused to let the students leave Gaza (for security reasons), which led the US to cancel the Fulbright scholarships. After the Times broke the story, the MSM picked up, slamming Israel. Before the dust settled, public pressure pushed the State Dept, then the State Dept. pushed Israel, and Israel reluctantly permitted some of the students to leave.
The Times acknowledged it’s power, crowing in a staff-editorial:
After reporting in The Times by Ethan Bronner drew high-level American attention, top State Department officials intervened to restore the students’ Fulbright fellowships that lower-level functionaries had notified them would be withdrawn. Israel has agreed to facilitate special exit permits.
What does this say about the way the MSM relates to Israel’s security concerns?
