The Palestine Human Rights Campaign (PHRC) expressed its condemnation of the campaign of misinformation and intimidation being conducted against Hanan Ashrawi, recipient of this year’s Sydney Peace Award.

PHRC spokesperson Sari Kassis said, "The accusations being made against Ashrawi border on the ridiculous. The magnitude of the lies being peddled does a huge disservice to the peace movement and its leaders. For those out there who have bought the lies hook, line and sinker, they’re doing little more than reinforcing a campaign whose primary goal is not to find a partner for peace, but to create an enemy.”

Kassis goes on to say, “The reality is that the pro-Zionist lobby is opposed to any recognition of a positive Palestinian contribution. It is apparent from the vitriolic attack levelled against Ashrawi that they seem to struggle with any recognition of our humanity, of our achievements and of our commitments to the notion of peace.”

Given Ashrawi’s very public expressions in support of peace initiatives such as the roadmap, the two-state solution and condemnation of suicide bombings, her denouncement as the ‘matriarch of terrorism’ demonstrates the lengths the pro-Zionist lobby will go to slander a Palestinian who is contributing positively to the peace movement.

The PHRC congratulate NSW Premiere Bob Carr as well as Professor Stuart Reece of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies for their courageous and necessary stand against this practice of intimidation and bullying.

Sari Kassis concluded by stating, “It does nothing for our international credibility that some of our Australian media and leaders have given so much credibility and credence to such obvious lies. The campaign is absurd and we would hope that this is a ‘last dash’ by the pro-Zionist lobby.”