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Palestinian unity government faces many obstacles

By WTOP Staff

KARIN LAUB
Associated Press

RAMALLAH, West Bank (AP) — President Mahmoud Abbas says a “black page” of Palestinian history has been turned with the formation of a unity government that formally ends his seven-year rift with the Islamic militant group Hamas. But the alliance of old foes remains volatile, Israel is threatening punitive measures and Abbas will have to secure U.S. and European recognition and funding to keep the unity government afloat. Here’s a look at what’s next.

TIMELINE

On Monday, Abbas swore in a 17-member Cabinet made up technocrats backed by Hamas and his Fatah movement. The Cabinet replaces two rival governments, one run by Hamas in the Gaza Strip after it seized the territory from Abbas in 2007 and the other, controlled by Abbas, in autonomous areas of the West Bank.

Abbas presided over the first Cabinet meeting at his West Bank headquarters. Three new ministers from Gaza didn’t attend because of Israeli travel restrictions between the two territories. Abbas suggested he will visit Gaza soon, a first since 2007.

Next month, the Palestinian parliament will resume operations. The parliament was elected with a large Hamas majority in 2006 but became defunct after the political split. Meanwhile, the Cabinet is to prepare for presidential and parliament elections in 2015.

RECOGNITION

Israel says it will shun the new government because it is backed by Hamas, which is seen by the West as a terror group because it killed hundreds of Israelis in attacks over the years. Abbas says his new Cabinet has accepted three conditions set out in the past by the U.S. and Europe for dealing with any Palestinian government — recognizing Israel, renouncing violence and adhering to previous agreements.

The Obama administration said Monday it intends to work with the new Palestinian government and will continue sending aid. Secretary of State John Kerry called Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to relay the U.S. position.

The European Union has said it welcomes unity and will maintain support for a government that meets the three conditions.

FUNDING

The U.S. and the EU have provided hundreds of millions of dollars a year in aid to Abbas’ Palestinian Authority, in addition to funds from other donors, including Arab governments. The Palestinian Authority has faced repeated deficits in recent years, amid donor fatigue and an economic downturn linked to Israeli restrictions on trade and movement. Abbas needs even more aid money now because of the higher costs of blending two separate bureaucracies that together employ some 200,000 Palestinians. A senior Palestinian official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss behind-the-scenes contacts, said the Gulf state of Qatar has assured Abbas it would cover any shortfall. Without U.S. and European funding, such a deficit could be significant.

ISRAEL’S RESPONSE

Despite tough rhetoric, Israel has so far hedged its bets. Israel announced Monday it will not negotiate with a Hamas-backed government. That looks like an empty threat since U.S.-brokered negotiations between Israel and Abbas on the terms of Palestinian statehood broke down in late April, and prospects for their resumption are slim. Israel could freeze the crucial monthly transfer of some $100 million in taxes and customs it collects on behalf of the Palestinians and has done so previously. However, Israel relented in the past because of international pressure and because it has no interest in bringing down a Palestinian self-rule government. In such a case, Israel as the military occupier would have to assume responsibility for some 4.4 million Palestinians.

HAMAS GAINS/LOSSES

Hamas entered reconciliation negotiations as the weaker party. It had to forge the alliance with Abbas because it could no longer afford to govern Gaza. A punishing Egyptian border blockade of the territory over the past year, along with Israel’s continued access restrictions, pushed Hamas into a financial crisis.

As a result, Hamas made concessions. Most of the 17 Cabinet ministers, while nominally independent, are loyal to Abbas or leftist factions. At the same time, Hamas will regain some political power with the reactivation of the parliament next month. Hamas also remains in control of a large security apparatus in Gaza and thus the de facto power.

ABBAS GAINS/LOSSES

In regaining a foothold in Gaza, Abbas is removing a stain from his legacy — the loss of Gaza. The pursuit of unity also gives him a new political strategy after negotiations with Israel failed. He scored an ideological victory over Hamas, which is forced to accept a government is based on his political program.

In return, Abbas leaves Hamas’ military arsenal and fighting force untouched and takes on the burden of procuring funds for providing services to Gaza’s 1.7 million people. Israel has warned that it will hold Abbas responsible for any rocket fire or other attacks launched from Gaza, meaning Abbas has to rely on Hamas to prevent smaller militant groups from carrying out such attacks.

Abbas risks an escalation of tensions with Israel, something he tried to avoid in the past. He has warned he would respond to any Israeli punitive measures, though he has not said what he would do.

LIKELIHOOD OF PALESTINIAN ELECTIONS NEXT YEAR

Neither Abbas nor Hamas seem interested in a vote that could diminish their power and influence in their respective territories. Israel warned Monday that it would act “against the participation of terror groups in elections,” suggesting it would not allow Hamas to campaign in the West Bank and east Jerusalem, areas under full Israeli control.

FUTURE OF WEST BANK SECURITY COORDINATION

It is likely to continue. Abbas says it’s in the Palestinian interest to have his forces continue coordination with Israeli troops in the West Bank. Their shared targets are Palestinian militants, including those from Hamas. Continued security coordination allays Israeli and U.S. concerns about a new Palestinian uprising and protects Abbas against any attempts by Hamas to stage a coup against him in the West Bank.

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Associated Press writers Mohammed Daraghmeh in Ramallah, West Bank and Ibrahim Barzak in Gaza City, Gaza Strip 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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