Hanan Awwad, Palestinian Poet and Scholar

Dr. Hanan Awwad's message concerning the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is that the chief obstacle to its peaceful resolution is Israel's violation of international law, its refusal to abide by U.N. Security Council resolutions, and its denial of Palestinian human rights.

Dr. Awwad's message is especially relevant in the light of former President Jimmy Carter's recent trip to the Middle East, where he secured a pledge from Hamas leaders to abide by any peace agreement with Israel ratified by a vote of the Palestinian people.

Hanan Awwad is a scholar, writer, and poet, as well as a fervent advocate of Palestinian independence. After earning a PhD in Literature and Humanities at McGill University, she became head of the Department of Cultural Studies and the Department of Humanities at the College of Science and Technology in Jerusalem. In 1988, Dr. Awwad founded the Palestinian section of Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF), where she works tirelessly to end to Israel’s occupation of Palestine, and for peace. In her role as chair of the PEN Centre, she has fought for freedom of speech and the protection of persecuted writers. She takes part every year in conferences all over the world adressing issues such as imperialism, conflict resolution, and the role of women in promoting peace in the Middle East and elsewhere.