"The Ministry of Peace concerns itself with war, the Ministry of Truth with lies, the Ministry of Love with torture, and the Ministry of Plenty with starvation."



This excerpt from George Orwell's classic novel 1984 aptly describes Yasser Arafat and the Palestinian Authority in our times. The Arab version should be titled 1964, but that?s quite another story.



Arafat wins the Nobel Peace Prize. Hanan Ashrawi wins the Sydney Peace Prize.



How is this humanly (or inhumanly, as the case may be) possible?



What is this world thinking (or not thinking, as the case may be)?



What are their qualifications?



Arafat is the Chairman of the Palestine Authority (formerly called the Palestine Liberation Organization). Arafat is the Chairman of Terror ? Fatah and its various ?security forces? and subsidiary terrorist groups ? Al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade, Force 17, Tanzim, et.al., with documented support of so-called more ?extremist fundamentalist? groups Hamas, Hezbollah and Islamic Jihad. His bloody, brutal, crazy, destructive, evil campaign of murder, mayhem, and terror is well documented, ever since he came to power in 1964 (ironically, when Egypt and Jordan ?occupied? the disputed territories of Gaza, Judea and Samaria). How does one explain the fact of his being awarded the prize?



Among Arafat?s many numerous credits and dastardly deeds, for which he is ultimately responsible as the ruler of the Arab ?Palestinian? people are the Achille Lauro hijacking, the Munich Olympic Massacre, and the Entebbe hostage-taking.



Arafat turned his back and walked way from peace in an unprecedented "Land for Peace" deal that would have guaranteed his people statehood, East Jerusalem as their capital, 100% of Gaza and 97% of Judea and Samaria (wrongly called the "West Bank"). Instead, Arafat unleashed a bloody campaign of hatred, incitement, terrorism and violence in the second "Al-Aqsa" Intifada. Arafat based this on the false premise that Ariel Sharon's visit to the Holy Temple Mount was a pretext for war. Just the opposite; there is ample documentary evidence that the Intifada was planned and staged before he refused the deal for peace and statehood for his people. Arafat only wished to continue his campaign of the Arab annihilation of Jews from their ancient biblical and modern homeland.



Arafat is a corrupt dictator who embezzles ?humanitarian aid? money, which he diverts to his own pocket and to terrorism.



One thing is certain: There is absolutely nothing ?Nobel?, or noble, about Arafat when it comes to peace.



Hanan Ashrawi is an apologist for murder and mayhem and one of Arafat?s best mouthpieces in a fraudulent political propaganda campaign that invented a ?Palestinian? nation, people, and territories. Ashrawi's 2003 Sydney Peace Prize also comes with a cash prize of $50,000. One hopes the money will be spent for peaceful purposes such as humanitarian aid, rather than to fund terrorist activities like her boss Arafat does. One hopes she will spend the money on clothing, food and shelter, rather than on terrorists of mass destruction.



The city of Sydney, Australia is a major sponsor of the prize. Ashrawi was chosen by members of the Sydney Peace Foundation, which is aligned with the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at the University of Sydney. Both Australian Prime Minister John Howard and Foreign Minister Alexander Downer told media that there are other Arab ?Palestinians? who deserve a peace award more than Ashrawi. Who? Abbas? Erekat? Rantisi? Yassin?



When the Lord Mayor of Sydney, Lucy Turnbull, instructed the municipal council to boycott the presentation, the media was awash with reports of a ?Jewish lobby? attempting to control the situation. Jews rule the world. Jews control the media. Sound familiar? Where have we heard these age old anti-Semitic remarks before? Ashrawi?s lecture in Sydney was attended by 1,500 people, who gave her a standing ovation. Much like the one accorded to Malaysian PM Mohathir Mohamad recently. Ashrawi is an advocate for acts of barbarism, murder and mayhem, approved by the masses who are truly asses.



Previous recipients of the Sydney prize include South Africa?s Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Mary Robinson, the former U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights. Ashrawi does not deserve to be in the company of these two peace activists.



Arafat and Ashrawi as prize recipients make a complete mockery of any peace prize.



Arafat and Ashrawi have not made any peace, have not told any truth, promoted love or provided opportunity or security for their people.



Instead they have offered only war, lies, torture and starvation.



One who promotes peace is deserving of a peace prize; one who promotes terrorism deserves only our despise.