NSW: Jewish community opposes peace prize going to Palestinian

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NSW: Jewish community opposes peace prize going to Palestinian

SYDNEY, Aug 9 AAP - Hanan Ashrawi, a prominent advocate for the Palestinian cause,has won the 2003 Sydney Peace Prize, it was reported today.

But the award to Dr Ashrawi has drawn heated opposition from Australia's Jewish community,the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

The judges unanimously awarded the prize to Dr Ashrawi, who lives in the Palestiniancity of Ramallah.

The director of the Sydney Peace Foundation, Professor Stuart Rees, said the awardrecognised her commitment to human rights and the Middle East peace process, as well as"her courage in speaking against oppression, against corruption and for justice".

But, the paper reported, Professor Rees said the foundation had been pressured notto confirm Dr Ashrawi as the winner.

The president of the executive council of Australian Jewry, Jeremy Jones, told theHerald that Dr Ashrawi had consistently opposed peace and was an "old style propagandist".

He said this year's choice reflected badly on the prize, whose past winners have includedSir William Deane, Desmond Tutu and former UN commissioner for human rights, Mary Robinson.

Archbishop Tutu and Ms Robinson both supported the decision to award the prize to DrAshrawi, the paper reported.

AAP ka/ldj

KEYWORD: PEACE