Rice to 'look into' withdrawn scholarships

US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said on Friday she would investigate a report that the State Department had withdrawn coveted scholarship grants to Palestinian students in Gaza.

These Gaza students lost their grants. The decision was made because they would not be able to get exit visas from Israel, according to State Department spokesman Tom Casey. The scholarships meant for the Gazans will be offered instead to Palestinian students from the West Bank, Casey said.

"We are extremely sorry that we are unable to finalize your scholarship at this time, and hope you will reapply next year and be able to complete your studies in the US," read the letter received Thursday by one of the eight students from the US consulate in Jerusalem.