PLO Executive Committee Member Dr. Hanan Ashrawi traveled to Berlin, Germany and gave a lecture at the Ibn Rushd Fund
for Freedom of Thought entitled, “Peace in Palestine - can this dream still come true?” on October 18. Following her
talk, Dr. Ashrawi was joined by Ruth Fruchtman, author and co-founder of 'Jüdische Stimme für gerechten Frieden in
Nahost,' the German chapter of The Jewish Voice for a Just Peace in the Middle East, and Dr. Housammeden Darwish, a
member of the Ibn Rushd Advisory Committee.
In the presence of diplomats and academics, Dr. Ashrawi also participated in a seminar organized by the BMW Foundation
Herbert Quandt, the Ibn Rushd Foundation and Al-Tawila on October 19. Her presentation focused on the deteriorating
conditions on the ground and Israel’s willful destruction of the two-state solution and the prospects for peace and
stability, as well as future Palestinian developments and moves in the international arena
In addition, Dr. Ashrawi conducted several meetings, including one with Director-General for Africa, Latin America, Near
and Middle East of the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs Dr. Philipp Ackermann on October 19.
Dr. Ashrawi expressed her appreciation to the German government for its stance against the illegal settlement enterprise
and on occupied Jerusalem and its positive voting record at the United Nations, as well as its increased financial
contribution to UNRWA. Dr. Ashrawi also urged Germany to provide support to the hospitals in East Jerusalem.
The discussion focused on the latest political and regional developments, and Dr. Ashrawi stressed the detrimental
impact of the U.S. administration’s reckless and disastrous moves and how they have emboldened Israel to continue with
its egregious violations of international law and Palestinian human rights.
In that view, Dr. Ashrawi stressed the importance of multilateral intervention and the urgent need for a rapid and
collective European effort to end the military occupation and to rescue the chances for a just peace.
Both sides also reaffirmed their commitment to forging enhanced relations between both Palestine and Germany.
Dr. Ashrawi was accompanied by Palestinian Ambassador to Germany Dr. Khouloud Daibes for the duration of her visit to
Berlin.