Hanan Mikhail Ashrawi
Sydney Peace Prize winner and advocate for Palestinian rights
Bio and press contact: see below.

This is a message of genuine appreciation, of deep appreciation and human recognition as well as affection for the US members of the World Council of Churches, who have taken positions not just of solidarity and human empathy, but also of courage. Courage, conviction, integrity and a genuine commitment to peace with justice, particularly on issues of tremendous difficulty; the Palestinian question and the pursuit of Palestinian-Israeli peace. This has been a difficult and arduous task; there were several attempts to exclude the Palestinians from human recognition and consideration and from the moral framework of humanity.

I would like to express our appreciation for the courage to intervene effectively and positively in a constructive way as an antidote to attempts to intervene negatively and militarily. Peace with justice is not an abstract value; it is a real determining factor of our lives. It is a most basic human right, and we appreciate everything you've done, in order not just to talk about peace with justice for Palestine and Israel, but also to act on that basis.

Now, when we are suffering from an ongoing state of siege from the horrific apartheid wall that is stealing our land and that is containing and imprisoning our people, we see that there is a human spirit and will that cannot be contained by the wall, and that you have broken through all attempts at silencing the Palestinians and imprisoning the Palestinians, and you have demonstrated that the human will, the human spirit and the power of conviction cannot be contained by any wall.

Message delivered on 21 September, 2004, to mark the observance of the International Day of Prayer for Peace.

Biographical summary

Dr Hanan Mikhail Ashrawi, winner of the Sydney Peace Prize for her efforts in the Middle East peace process, is known for her advocacy and work for Palestinian rights. In 1998, after serving in the Palestinian government in various capacities for seven years, she founded the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy (MIFTAH). Dr Ashrawi strives to create a human face for the Palestinian struggle for freedom.

Media contact: Rana Malki +972-2-585-1842 / 583-5462 rmalki@miftah.org


Last edited on September 20, 2004 by Juan Michel / WCC