The row over the awarding of the 2003 Sydney Peace Prize to Palestinian activist Hanan Ashrawi has brought to Australia a conflict that some migrants left the Middle East to get away from. Itâs the first time the award has been controversial.
Australia demands immigrants ditch old ethnic and religious grudges on their arrival. The trading of barbs over Ashrawi and her fitness for the prize is seen as a new and worrying departure. Ashrawi will receive the prize from New South Wales Premier Bob Carr, but Mayor of Sydney Lucy Turnbull is boycotting the ceremony. Turnbull says Ashrawi is not a peacemaker but a hardliner who criticised the Oslo peace process in 1993 and who has condemned Washingtonâs âroad map to peaceâ initiative. Prime Minister John Howard, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and other members of the cabinet have also said Ashrawiâs record makes her underserving of a peace prize. But Carr is standing firm. âIâve never been more resolved to attend a function in my life,â the leader of Australiaâs biggest state said. Sydney Peace Foundation director Stuart Reed is also adamant that Ashrawi should be honoured, alleging that the cityâs powerful Jewish community had âcampaigned to vilify her, and to ridicule the status of the prize.â
| Ahah! It's them danged Jews! |
Jews Against the Occupation spokeswoman Angela Budai characterised Ashrawi as a âPalestinian moderate who has fought for democracy and human rights.â
| And if you can't trust Angela Budai, who can you trust? |
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