JERUSALEM, June 1 (Reuters) - Israel said on Sunday it would try to assist Palestinian students in the Gaza Strip hoping to study overseas achieve their aim by letting them leave the blockaded territory, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said. Israel's agreement to help came in response to a request by the United States on Friday that the Jewish state allow seven students set to receive coveted U.S. government Fulbright fellowships to travel to Jerusalem for a visa interview. Israel tightened its cordon around the Gaza Strip after Hamas Islamists took over the the coastal strip nearly a year ago and only a very small number of Palestinians, mainly humanitarian cases, are allowed to leave the enclave. "There are various students that we were asked to help with ... the U.S. discussed it with us and we are looking into it to see if we can help," Foreign Ministry spokesman Arye Mekel said. The U.S. Consulate General in Jerusalem on Sunday wrote to the seven students telling them that it was working to secure exit permits for a visa interview in Jerusalem so that they can travel to the U.S. Frequent rocket attacks from Gaza into Israel have led the Jewish state to reduce contacts with the territory. Israel argues that its travel restrictions are designed to prevent suicide bombings or other attacks. Abdul Rahman Abdullah, 30, from Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip who is hoping to travel to the U.S. for an MBA course as part of the Fulbright programme said the joy was still only partial. "Gaza students should not be deprived of the right to education and the fact that we have been able to convey the message is a success but our joy is not complete because there are at least 700 other students who want to study abroad," Abdullah said. Fulbright grants are the U.S. flagship programme in international educational exchange and are used to help promote a better understanding of U.S. values abroad. On Monday, an Israeli group which lobbies for freedom of movement for Palestinians is set to petition Israel's High Court in Jerusalem on behalf of two students who are seeking the right to travel to study in Britain and Germany. A spokeswoman for the Gisha group also said some 700 Gaza students were being denied the right to exit the strip for studies abroad. (Additional reporting Nidal al-Mughrabi in Gaza, Writing by Ori Lewis; Editing by Mary Gabriel)
An Israeli soldier gestures beside an ambulance carrying a box, containing what Hezbollah says are remains of Israeli soldiers, at Rosh Hanikra along the Israel-Lebanon border June 1, 2008. Hezbollah said ...
