The priorities for the new Palestinian government is the economy. If Hamas cannot pay salaries when they form the government, there will be a collapse. People cannot afford to have that happen; there is nothing for people to fall back on. If people go hungry, there will be chaos - not just instability, but a breakdown. And there will be violence with a spillover effect. This is crucial to understand.
Hanan AshrawiBeyond the emotionalism and the obvious sense of relief on all sides, I think that there is a recognition that reality may intrude, that perhaps the steps ahead and the days ahead are going to be much more difficult than one expects.
Hanan AshrawiYou can't simply redefine Jerusalem. The Palestinian claim is based on legality, on the international recognition that the situation created by the war in '67 is not valid.
Hanan AshrawiFor decades, since the mid-twentieth century, the nationalist movement, and Fatah in particular, has dominated the political scene. Palestinian politics were primarily nationalistic, secular. Now, suddenly we are seeing the election of a religious party with extreme political ideologies and with a social agenda that seems inconsistent with the cultural heritage of the Palestinian people.
Hanan AshrawiWomen in politics are more honest and forthright. We are not in it for the ego gratification.
Hanan AshrawiPalestinians were religious in many ways, but they did not subscribe to political Islam, historically.
Hanan AshrawiThe rise of Hamas is a product of the failures of political will in the international community, of the absence of the peace process, of the increase in violence and ideology.
Hanan AshrawiWhen you have a nation that is suffering collectively from a situation of injustice - of violence, of imprisonment and closure and checkpoints, from a sense of vulnerability and of hopelessness - attitudes are going to be affected by these measures.
Hanan AshrawiHamas played the negative opposition, in a sense, because it formed an alternative source of power without any mandate from the people. Now, Hamas has that mandate and it wants to form a national unity government. I say, let them form a government and let them accept the fact that they will have opposition.
Hanan AshrawiSharon has subverted the whole process by turning it into something sequential and conditional and, of course, by making himself the interpreter of the road map.
Hanan AshrawiThere are people starving in the siege, there are children traumatized and terrified. There are men women and children dying. This is a situation that has reached the proportions of a tremendous humanitarian crisis. It is a tragedy and every minute that passes we lose lives and more people are brutalized and traumatized.
Hanan AshrawiSharon was a strong and charismatic leader who steered the politics toward the right and extremism. Now it is clear that Israel needs a leadership that proceeds strongly toward peace, or else the extremist right will hijack the situation.
Hanan AshrawiWe know what they say, they want all of Palestine (including Israel) and say that negotiations did not work. They talk about wanting reform. That doesn't mean they will do it.
Hanan AshrawiIt's clear Israel has suspended the peace process, despite the so-called moderation of the Arab world, because it has no interest in peace.
Hanan AshrawiWe are the only people on Earth asked to guarantee the security of our occupier...while Israel is the only country that calls for defense from its victims.
Hanan AshrawiWe need to stop Sharon. His lethal policies are drawing blood on both sides. That's why we need a serious intervention -- international troops. And we need to end the occupation if there is to be security for both people.
Hanan Ashrawi