Hanan Ashrawi
Speaks to 1,000 at American Friends
For Palestine Banquet
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Arab-American Affairs magazine,
VOL 31 Issue No. 209, November-December 2003
The sold-out event was attended by close to 1,000 people and raised nearly $200,000. All proceeds were earmarked and delivered to the Palestine Children Relief Fund. Rima Nashashibi made the opening remarks and introduced Don Bustany, the banquet emcee. "You’re the people who help the world go round by keeping the wheels greased," said Bustany to the audience, adding that they go about living their lives but don’t forget about the people who are less fortunate who need their help. The chairman of the board for the PCRF, Dr. Musa Nasir, then spoke about the formation of AF4P only four months prior to the event. The different organizations for Palestinian causes came together because "all the organizations felt that unity is strength," said Nasir. Nasir added that they came together in this unity "in order to help our injured and maimed children." It was for this cause, Nasir stressed , that AF4P was born, and he said, "I’m hoping this infant grows and lives forever and forever." Bustany then introduced Rabia Hussaini, who has been active for a long time in Palestinian children’s and women’s issues including Al-Quds University. She spoke in Arabic but Bustany first gave a synopsis of her speech in English for those who did not understand Arabic. "She will remind us of the importance of being united and building meaningful friendships… and of being true to our human values," Bustany previewed her speech. This will help better the needs of Palestinian children and Palestinians at large, he added. When Steve Sosebee, one of the founders of PCRF, went up to speak, he talked about how the Palestinians have given him so much , that he could never even begin to give that back. Through Palestinians, he added, he has learned what it means to have courage, compassion and humanity. Sosebee talked about his life as a journalist and the times when he would travel to Palestine and see some of the horrors, including a boy who had lost his legs. "When you see injustice you have to struggle against injustice," Sosebee added. He wanted to help the boy with no legs, especially because he felt an obligation since, as an American taxpayer, he helped pay for the boy’s legs being blown off. So he went to help the kid and met Suheila Nassir, who also offered help. Soon they formed PCRF. Sosebee went on to say that the organization was started from nothing and almost went broke. He sent a proposal to Prince Bandar at the embassy of Saudi Arabia. They helped sponsor the organization for a while because they believed in the cause. "They were interested in helping kids," Sosebee said of Saudis, reacting to recent criticism the Saudis have faced in the news. Sosebee also thanked a few people for all of their support including Talal Zarif, Dr. Bahbah and Farid El Asmar, the treasurer of PCRF. He also thanked Ziyad Abujawad and his wife, Dunya for saving the lives of dozens of kids. He then acknowledged the most important person in his life, his wife, Huda, whose love and support over the last ten years has allowed Sosebee to stay strong in his fight for Palestinian children. "What we have this evening is a message of hope," Sosebee later said, "a great example of what we can do we unify." He concluded by saying that uniting for one cause will help bring needed help and support to Palestine. Unity was indeed a theme of the evening. Before he sang, the renowned Hamid said that seeing all the Palestinian organizations under one roof he felt that was the most important thing. "They want to kill my children and destroy my home… and they want me to smile about it," Hamid added, saying that this was what his song was all about. Suhaila Nassir, another cofounder of PCRF, then spoke about the cause and the many people who have helped out through the years. She spoke of the Palestinian children and said that two of the children were there that night. "Actually, these kids, they are the heroes of Palestine, they are the ones who are making our lives better," she added. Sami Masheney, Esq., Rima Nashashibi and Joe Dibsi assisted by many volunteers, started coordinating the fundraising drive. Finally, Bustany introduced the keynote speaker of the evening, Dr. Hanan Ashrawi. Ashrawi said that the "generosity of spirit" of the people at the event was "heartwarming, touching and humbling at the same time." She went on to add that this spirit, with collective work, was what they "need to liberate ourselves and to liberate Palestine." She added that the expression of collective responsibility is hope. Ashrawi also discussed the ramifications of September 11th, 2001 terrorist attacks and the ripple effects it has had on Palestine, adding that the concept of security has become a military concept instead of a human concept. "Israel is the only country in the world that claims self-defense from its own victims," Ashrawi pointed out. She also added that God does not choose sides in this conflict and that God should be taken out of the equation. The conflict is a human created construct. "People have asked me if (the U.S.) will become part of the Arab League. I don’t know," Ashrawi laughed with the audience. She discussed some grim statistics about Palestine - there is a 30 percent malnutrition rate among the children and 70 percent of Palestinians live below the poverty level. But, she also added that if revenge and retribution is the goal, then Palestine will never be liberated. "(You) will only be a victim of your own hate," she added. She went on explaining that the American people can be part of the answer. It is important to organize, to lobby "and to let your voices and will be heard," Ashrawi urged. "The spirit of unity that we have seen here… is the spirit that we need in order to bring about genuine peace in Palestine and throughout the region," she added. Three awards were presented during the banquet by the AF4P. Joanne Abu Qartoumy presented the plaques. The first award was presented to Dr. Ashrawi for being "a champion of Palestinian people" and "a strong voice." Sosebee was given the next award and Abu Qartoumy said it was "in recognition of his visionary work on behalf of the children of Palestine." "I just want to thank you and I will continue until Palestine is free," Sosebee said upon receiving the plaque. Dr. Musa Nassir and his wife Suhelia received the third plaque as co-founders and directors of PCRF. "For the most noble of all causes, the heart directs itself," Abu Qartoumy said in presenting the award to the couple. Palestine liberation was also a common theme throughout the evening. After Dunya Karam, a young girl, sang, Bustamy turned to her and said, "Dunya, in your lifetime there will be an independent and sovereign Palestine." The night consisted of speeches on the injured children of occupied Palestine and on the gratitude of all those involved in helping their cause. It also was a night of music. Besides Karam and Hamid, Deema Sosebee, the 6-year-old daughter of PCRF co-founder Steve Sosebee, also sang, singing in Arabic. It ended with the Birzeit youth group performing Palestinian folkloric dance as Haitham Aranki played the nostalgic Arabic flute (Shabbabeh). A professional videotape of the event was produced by Visual Sound Productions, labeled as the First (AF4P) Annual Layali Falastin Festival taped and edited by Bashir Matin of Crescent Moon Productions. The American Friends for Palestine (AF4P) is a coalition of 11 established Palestinian American organizations united to extend humanitarian, medical, and educational relief to the needy and the injured in Occupied Palestine. AF4P also seeks to foster stronger ties and better understanding among Palestinian-Arab-Americans and the community at large. The AF4P organizations comprised of: Al-Bireh Palestine Society, Arab-American Friends of Nazareth, Bethlehem Association, Birzeit Society, Nativity Charitable Foundation, Palestine Aid Society, Palestinian American Congress, Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, Palestine Solidarity Committee, Palestinian American Women Association, and the Union of Palestine American Women. The Palestine Children’s Relief Fund is a non-profit, non-political, 501(c)(3) tax-deductible established secular charity organization dedicated to relieving the suffering of Palestinian and other Arab children who are the victims of Israeli violent, endless occupation and serious illnesses. It also assists in shipping wheelchairs, medical equipment and artificial limbs for injured Palestinian children; provides funding for American and European surgeons to operate on injured Palestinian children; provides the necessary medical training for Palestinian doctors to perform their professional duties. To find out more about this charitable organization, visit their website at www.pcrf.net. |