Hanan Ashrawi

by Francis A. Boyle / January 11th, 2015

Fall 1991
There we were
At the Grand Hotel
Supposed to be negotiating peace

When Hanan got word
That the Israelis were expelling
Women and children
From their homes in Silwan
During the pouring rain
You could watch it on CNN

So Hanan called a press conference
Down in the lobby
I marched down with her
The klieg lights were on
The jackals were there
It was Hanan against them
With a young female aide

As Hanan spoke
And the jackals pounced
She fought most valiantly
For Palestine

Then embraced her young aide
A tear fell from her eye
Madonna with Child.

University of Illinois Law Professor Francis A. Boyle served as Legal Advisor to the Palestine Liberation Organization on the 1988 Palestinian Declaration of Independence; to the Palestinian Delegation to the Middle East Peace Negotiations from 1991 to 1993; and to H.E. Chairman and President Yasser Arafat. The story is told in his book Palestine, Palestinians and International Law (Clarity Press: 2003). He can be reached at: FBOYLE@LAW.UIUC.EDU. Read other articles by Francis A..

This article was posted on Sunday, January 11th, 2015 at 8:01am and is filed under Poetry.