PLO spokeswoman slates Gingrich for anti-Palestinian remarks

Sunday, 11 December 2011

Palestine Liberation Organization spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi has condemned the comments of U.S. Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich in which he referred to Palestinians as “terrorists”. (File photo)

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By Al Arabiya
Dubai

Hanan Ashrawi, member of the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) executive committee and the organization’s spokeswoman, slammed statements made by U.S. Republican presidential candidate Newt Gingrich about the Palestinians being an “invented” people and “terrorists.”

“Looks like Gingrich has lost all touch with reality,” Ashrawi said in a radio interview.

“His statements reveal ignorance and racism as well as a cheap attempt to woo pro-Israeli voters at the expense of Palestinian rights and peace in the region.”

For Ashrawi, Gingrich’s statements did not come as a surprise since this, she said, has always been the Republicans’ way of securing as many votes as possible.

“Republicans do not understand that by doing so they are regarded by all those who are aware of what is happening on the ground as totally divorced from reality and totally irresponsible,” Ashrawi was quoted as saying by the Kuwaiti News Agency.

Despite her attack on Republicans in particular, Ashrawi stated that American administrations in general, whether Republican or Democratic, have never been an unbiased partner in the peace process.

“There are special ties between the United States and Israeli and they have always had a strategic alliance.”

Ashrawi explained that in dealing with the Middle East, the United States has always taken Israel’s side.

“This led many people, including Americans, to consider Tel Aviv the architect of American foreign policy.”