Last update - 00:00 05/03/2007
Report says U.S. scholarships supported Palestinian militants
By Reuters
The Washington Times reported Monday that the United States has provided millions of dollars in financial support to two Palestinian universities, including one controlled by Hamas.
According to the report, the institutions have participated in the advocacy, support or glorification of terrorism.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said however that U.S. officials concluded after a review that neither institution - the Islamic University of Gaza and Al Quds University - engages in terrorist activities.
McCormack acknowledged that some U.S. scholarship money has gone to Palestinian university students but only to those confirmed not to have links to terrorism.
The Times report said the funding - principally in scholarships to individual students - is being scrutinized by several members of Congress and their aides, who say it may violate U.S. law.
According to the report, the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) has given funds in excess of $140,000 to the Islamic University in Gaza that is controled by Hamas.
USAID was also said to have granted $2.3 million last year to Al Quds University, another insitution with direct ties to terrorist organizations.