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Israel-Hamas deal may hinge on seaport for Gaza

By WTOP Staff

KARIN LAUB
Associated Press

GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) — A deal on ending the monthlong Gaza war could hinge on a seaport for the territory on the Mediterranean coast that is blockaded by Israel and Egypt.

The Palestinians want to build such a port, saying Gaza needs its own gate to the world, while Israel says it cannot allow unfettered sea access unless Gaza’s Islamic militant Hamas group agrees to disarm. Hamas has rejected such demands.

The issue is a main point of contention in this week’s Egyptian-brokered talks in Cairo on a long-term truce, including new border arrangements for Gaza.

A seaport controlled by the Palestinians could transform the lives of Gaza’s 1.8 million people who have been unable to freely trade and travel since Israel and Egypt imposed tight border restrictions in response to a Hamas takeover of the territory in 2007.

Only about 13,000 Gaza residents with special clearance, such as medical patients and traders, are able to leave the territory each month through land crossings with Israel and Egypt. Virtually all exports from Gaza are banned.

Gaza once came close to getting its own port.

In July 2000, construction began on a $73 million port near Gaza City, but the project was derailed after the outbreak of a major round of Israeli-Palestinian fighting two months later.

If the go-ahead were given now, the port could be built in two years, said Ali Shaath, a Palestinian official in charge of the original project. As envisioned then, it could handle about 100,000 tons of cargo and about 1,000 passengers a day.

The latest round of Cairo talks is to last at least until midnight Wednesday, when a three-day cease-fire expires.

The Gaza war erupted July 8, following weeks of escalating tensions. Since then, Israel has launched close to 5,000 airstrikes against what it said were targets linked to Hamas and other militant groups, while Gaza militants fired more than 3,500 rockets and mortar shells at Israel. The fighting killed close to 2,000 people in Gaza, nearly one-fourth children, Palestinian and United Nations officials say. Israel lost 67 people, all but three soldiers, official say.

The Palestinian delegation, which includes members of Hamas as well as loyalists of Western-backed Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, says any deal must include a complete opening of Gaza’s borders.

This would include the construction of a seaport and the rebuilding of Gaza’s international airport. The airport operated for three years, until 2001, when Israeli attacked the radar tower — as part of Israeli-Palestinian fighting at the time — and forced it to shut down. Several years later, the airport was destroyed in Israeli attacks.

Building the two ports is pivotal in any deal because they would bring “massive change” for Gaza, a Palestinian negotiator said.

The Israeli team told Egyptian mediators that the disarming of Gaza’s militant groups is a prerequisite for building the seaport and airport, under third-party supervision, said another member of the Palestinian delegation. He said Israel instead offered an easing of the restrictions, including allowing more imports to Gaza.

An Israel official confirmed that Israel links any port construction to militants giving up their weapons.

All three officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the content of the negotiations with journalists.

Construction of both the seaport and the airport were agreed on during Israeli-Palestinian talks on interim peace deals in the 1990s.

Shaath, the Palestinian official, said that by 1999, the Palestinian self-rule government had lined up European funding for the seaport, including money from the French and Dutch governments. Security arrangements for the port were to be worked out in subsequent talks with Israeli officials.

In July 2000, European contractors arrived, setting up at a site south of Gaza City, and began work on a wave breaker. Two month later, the second Palestinian uprising against Israeli occupation erupted, quickly escalating into a major round of fighting. By spring of 2001, the contractors pulled out amid concerns for their safety, and Israel’s military leveled the site, Shaath said.

Shaath said the port plans could be dusted off quickly in the event of a political agreement.

“It’s a matter of a few months to be on the ground,” he said.

Avi Yerushalmi, a senior official in Israel’s Transport Ministry, said that even if a Gaza port was built, it would not be able to service larger container vessels. Those would continue docking at Israel’s Ashdod port to the north, he said.

He said that for now, “the only consideration, the relevant one, is the security issue.”

___

Associated Press writer Mohammed Daraghmeh in Cairo 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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