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CNN Live Event/Special

America Under Attack: Talk with Palestinian Spokesperson Hanan Ashrawi

Aired September 12, 2001 - 06:47   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL LIN, CNN ANCHOR: A diverse reaction out of the Middle East.

Right now, we go to Ms. Hanan Ashrawi. She is a Palestinian spokesperson.

Good morning, Ms. Ashrawi. I'd just like to get your reaction...

HANAN ASHRAWI, PALESTINIAN SPOKESWOMAN: Good morning.

LIN: ... to what is now being characterized as the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil.

ASHRAWI: It certainly is. I think it's the worst terrorist attack in the history of humanity, and it's a blow to humanity as a whole. It's a crime that is of just absolute immorality and evil.

And may I take this opportunity to extend on behalf of the Palestinian people and the Arabs as a whole our deep sense of grief, our -- I don't know how to say it -- our condolences to the American people, and our identification with their pain and with their sorrow.

This is entirely unconscionable. This is something that has struck deep in the hearts and minds of every human being, every person who recognizes the need for a moral imperative and for a human identification and to the victims, their families, their friends. To the American people as a whole, we stand with you and by you and we feel your pain.

LIN: An act struck deep indeed as every American feels this morning. And yet right now, I'm going to show our domestic audience here, our audience actually worldwide, these pictures out of Ramallah yesterday. As you say these words, how do you account for these Palestinians who are dancing in the streets, celebrating this attack against the United States?

ASHRAWI: I think this is entirely misleading. I know the whole (ph) people understood the implications of what was happening. They didn't understand. Some people, they acted -- and they're a minority. Children, people who didn't understand. Once people understood the magnitude and understood what actually did happen -- I know from the people I saw, I spoke to from the leaders and from President Arafat on down to civil society, to people in the city, the leadership of the Intifada, they all expressed horror. They all expressed condemnation. They all expressed grief.

But you cannot sort of choose a minority and a moment in which people didn't understand in order to malign the majority or to color the Palestinian people in a very -- to label them in a way which is entirely unfair and unjust. People felt maybe this was a political thing. They didn't know that this was an act of terrorism. And once people understood, they were unanimous in their condemnation and their sorrow and in their shock. I have heard this personally myself.

I have talked to many people, and I really would appreciate it if you wouldn't choose the initial response and the minority response in order to generalize. This has been exploited enough to malign the Palestinians and to put us as though we are condoning this act, even though we as victims ourselves, we feel nothing but sympathy to the American victims and to America as a whole.

We feel that we have a common bond. We are being shelled and killed daily. We are living in a state of siege. Last night, 11 Palestinians were shot and killed, shelled (ph) to bits and pieces. Over 100 are wounded. Ambulances cannot get to them.

So even from the depths of our own sorrow and victimization, we reach out in genuine identification to the American people. And we say we feel your pain, we feel your sorrow, and we will do everything possible we can to join you in attempting to combat such an evil that is an evil against everything that is human and moral, against everybody who is struggling for freedom, for dignity, for human rights.

LIN: Ms. Ashrawi, it is very possible that more American lives have been lost in this terrorist attack -- in this tragedy than even the countless number of Arab lives even in the last five years.

How is this tragedy likely to change the dynamics on the ground in the Middle East now?

ASHRAWI: I think this tragedy, even though we don't measure human lives quantitatively, every single life is important, is unique and is irreplaceable. But I think this tragedy has changed the course of human history. I think the full implications will not be understood immediately. It has to be -- the situation has to be studied, depending also on the perpetrators that must be found and must be held accountable and must be punished.

I believe that it will have implications for global perceptions and definitions of who is an enemy and who is a friend -- such an invisible enemy that can strike anywhere and with such professionalism, with such deliberation, having so many resources and capabilities. This is astounding. It is absolutely horrific, and it changes the dynamic of human relations, and of course, enmities (ph) and friendships and alliances beyond national boundaries. This has to be a collective human endeavor.

And I think it should also be with an added emphasis, particularly and at least to solve these problems, to solve our conflicts, to end an occupation, to try to create a situation where we can join forces against evil rebels and constantly be part of a perceptual cycle of victimization...

(CROSSTALK)

LIN: Ms. Ashrawi, exactly...

(CROSSTALK)

ASHRAWI: ... energy and commitment.

LIN: Absolutely. That is exactly what the Bush administration will be asking for today around the world.

Thank you very much for joining us this morning. Hanan Ashrawi, spokesperson for the Palestinian authority.

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