Ashrawi: Palestinians not to blame for Sept. 11

By Steven K. Paulson, Associated Press Writer
September 14, 2002

Hanan Ashrawi (center) with Coloradoans who have gone to Palestine in solidarity (photo: Robin Jenkins)

BOULDER -- During a speech in Boulder Saturday, Palestinian leader Hanan Ashrawi said her people should not be blamed for the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.

"Yes, there are some Palestinians who allow the pain to take over and allow emotions to take over and who succumb to extremist ideology," she said. "One person killed is one person too many."

About 100 people held a vigil for peace outside the CU Theater, a stark contrast to her speech in Colorado Springs the day after the anniversary of the terrorist attacks. That appearance drew hundreds of demonstrators from both sides of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Ashrawi, who founded the Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy, has condemned suicide bombings and is considered a moderate.

"Even though we have been targeted and exposed to the most lethal military machinery, that doesn't mean we should do the same thing to the Israelis or to others," she said to a round of applause.

Ashrawi said many Americans are wrongly trying to blame Palestinians for last year's attacks in New York and Washington.

"There are attempts to create a situation of guilt by association, as though we deserve what happened to us because of the al-Qaida or Taliban," she said.

Some protesters disagreed with Ashrawi's message.

"I think she's slick and deceitful and an apologist for terrorism," said Barbara Griss of Denver.

Seth Kent of Denver, who grew up in the Middle East, was also outside the building where Ashrawi gave her speech. He said she had a message of tolerance and peace and said the United States should not take sides.

"I don't think there is any other solution. Right now there are injustices on both sides. The United States has always sided with Israel, and I think the U.S. is still doing that," he said.

At the Colorado College campus in Colorado Springs Thursday, Ashrawi said the United States can learn a valuable lesson from the terrorist attacks and pursue a path toward peace or face a resurgence in global terrorism.