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Palestinian politician Hanan Ashrawi spoke of the ongoing efforts to negotiate an end to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict at a virtual event hosted Thursday by the Belfer Center at Harvard Kennedy School.
Ashrawi – a prominent Palestinian politician, lawmaker and activist – made history as the first woman elected to the Executive Committee of the Palestine Liberation Organization in 2009. She was re-elected in 2018 and served as the gatekeeper. official word of the PLO until 2020.
Moderated by Middle East Initiative faculty director and international relations professor Tarek Masoud, Wednesday’s conversation came about five months after the last flashpoint of violence in the Israeli-Palestinian region that lasted for 11 days. In May, Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip, fired rockets at Israel after Israeli police raided a mosque in Jerusalem. Israel responded by bombing targets in Gaza.
Masoud started the conversation by asking Ashrawi to respond to allegations that Palestine “inhibits prospects for self-determination,” citing the peace accords refused at Camp David in 2000 and the peace deal rejected by Ehud Olmert in 2008.
“If you look at the fact that there has never been a single peace proposal that could meet the minimum requirements of sovereignty and territorial integrity and territorial contiguity,” Ashrawi argued. “These are all ways of trying to find ways around the conflict, even when they are talking about Camp David.”
“Yes [Palestinians] were free, if we were in control, if we were equal, if we have equal rights, and so on, then we would take charge of the peace process and bring it to completion, ”she added.
Masoud asked Ashrawi to comment on the loopholes of the Oslo Accords, a pair of diplomatic deals made by the Israeli government and the PLO in the 1990s.
Ashrawi said she believed those who negotiated the deal were not “fully aware of all the issues.”
“By putting aside all the real issues, in particular the occupation and the lack of freedom and rights, and refusing to address the fundamental issues and root causes, including the refugee issue, all of these things have been postponed. without any guarantee. “said Ashrawi.
“Without any kind of protection for the Palestinians who were under occupation, we continue to negotiate under occupation while Israel has not been held responsible,” she added.
Ashrawi said in an interview that she hopes attendees gain a better understanding of the “Palestinian narrative and Palestinian reality” through the event.
“I want you to know – and I know many people already know this – to think collectively about ways in which we can cooperate to find solutions, and not just continue to accuse or continue to expect Palestinians to carry the burden or weight of the situation, ”Ashrawi said.
Ashrawi added that she expected the event to receive some setback, as controversy is “always a part of any academic institution.”
“As you start to think critically and when you are there to speak out, especially on the Palestinian issue which has long been excluded from public discourse in the United States, I think you will gain some perspective.” , said Ashrawi. . “But that is changing.”
She said she believes institutions like Harvard are important in shaping perceptions, attitudes and leadership.
“Once [people] are exposed to different narratives, once they are exposed to the truth and the reality of Palestinian identity, I think it will make a difference, ”she said. “You can’t learn everything but at least you can learn new things.”
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