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Kerry: US will work with Palestinian unity Cabinet

By WTOP Staff

IBRAHIM BARZAK
Associated Press

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — Secretary of State John Kerry on Wednesday defended Washington’s decision to work with a new Palestinian unity government, saying none of its ministers has ties to the Islamic militant group Hamas.

Israel has urged the U.S. and Europe to shun the technocrat government backed by Palestinian rivals Hamas and Fatah. Hamas has been blacklisted as a terror group by the West, while Fatah is led by Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said he is “deeply troubled” by the U.S. decision not to cut ties, using unusually blunt language in referring to Israel’s main ally.

Kerry told reporters during a visit to Lebanon on Wednesday that “Israel is our friend, our strong ally,” but didn’t budge from the position announced by the State Department shortly after the unity government was sworn in Monday.

The secretary noted that Abbas has said the new government would follow his Western-backed policies, including continued security coordination between his forces and Israeli troops in the West Bank.

Kerry said the U.S. will watch the new government closely, but that based on Abbas’ pledges, “we will work with it as … is appropriate.”

The new government “does not include any ministers who are affiliated with Hamas,” Kerry said in his most detailed comments yet on the issue. “We have checked that. In fact, most of the key Cabinet positions — including the prime minister, the two deputy prime ministers, and the finance minister — are the very same as in the prior government.”

The European Union has also expressed conditional support of the unity government sworn in Monday. The 17 ministers, though nominally independents, are seen as leaning toward Abbas and his Fatah movement or to leftist PLO factions.

Abbas needs continued political and financial support from the West to keep the new government afloat.

The formation of the technocrat government was a first step in ending a seven-year division following the takeover of the Gaza Strip by Hamas. Since 2007, the rivals have run separate governments, Hamas in Gaza and Abbas in the autonomous areas of the Israeli-occupied West Bank.

The new government faces many challenges, including blending two large bureaucracies. Abbas’ Palestinian Authority has some 150,000 on its payroll, including tens of thousands in Gaza who have stayed home from their jobs since 2007. Hamas, meanwhile, has hired more than 40,000 people for its own administration.

Rami Mihdawi, the spokesman of the West Bank-based Finance Ministry, said the Palestinian Authority employees would receive their monthly salaries on Wednesday. Meanwhile, it remains unclear if and when the Hamas loyalists will be paid.

Prime Minister Rami Hamdallah said committees would be formed to discuss the details of reconciliation, indicating a tough road ahead with lots of opportunities for rancor and dispute.

In Gaza, new ministers took over in the justice, housing and labor ministries.

Outgoing Housing Minister Yousef Jahriz told employees who had been hired by Hamas that “the new government will work with you and take care of your salaries.” He said the former employees, who have stayed home since the takeover, “are welcome to return.”

___

Associated Press writer Matthew Lee in Beirut contributed to this report.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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