Prominent Palestinian Legislative Council member for Jerusalem and the Secretary-General of MIFTAH – The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi has been awarded the Mahatma Gandhi International Award for Peace and Reconciliation by the Gandhi Development Trust in Durban, South Africa.

At a time where the Palestinian struggle for national liberation, as well as the Peace Process itself, are virtually deadlocked, the voice of peace and reconciliation become evermore crucial to re-inject humanity to a most inhumane conflict. Dr. Hanan Ashrawi, a prominent Palestinian voice for peace has repeatedly called on the International community, to pressure the State of Israel to end its 38-year long occupation of the Palestinian Territories, in order to achieve a genuine, peaceful and comprehensive resolution to this conflict, which has caused great pain and suffering for many people, far too long.

Accepting the award on behalf of Dr. Ashrawi, Dr. Lily Feidy, MIFTAH's Deputy Director said “...this recognition of the efforts of Palestinians, Israelis, as well as all people of good conscience throughout the world, empowers us all to continue to push full force for peace and reconciliation in a region that suffers from great injustices.”

It is in MIFTAH’s view, that only with the spirit and teachings of Mahatma Gandhi, can true and lasting peace be achieved for the peoples of the region, and the world at large. MIFTAH calls upon the international community and in specific the Middle-East Peace Quartet, especially on the eve of the United Nations Annual General Assembly Summit, to reengage in the ailing peace process and put a final and conclusive end to the occupation of Palestinian land and people, to allow future generations to wreak the benefits of genuine peace, which their predecessors have sadly been deprived of.

The Palestinian Initiative for the Promotion of Global Dialogue and Democracy, MIFTAH, is a non-governmental, non-partisan Jerusalem-based institution dedicated to fostering democracy and good governance within Palestinian society through promoting public accountability, transparency, the free flow of information and ideas and the challenging of stereotyping at home and abroad.