Ashrawi

RAMALLAH, West Bank (CNN) -- Leading Palestinian negotiator and spokeswoman Hanan Ashrawi announced her resignation from the Palestinian Cabinet Thursday, complaining of corruption and mismanagement of the Mideast peace process.

Ashrawi's action reflected her displeasure over the failure of Palestinian Authority President Yasser Arafat to shake up his Cabinet by bringing in new leadership.

She will continue to represent Jerusalem in the Palestinian Legislative Council.

Ashrawi, who had been minister of higher education since 1996, refused an appointment as tourism minister in the new, expanded Cabinet Arafat announced on Wednesday, a year after legislators demanded the old one be dissolved because of alleged corruption.

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Jerrold Kessel reports from Jerusalem
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Arafat stunned legislators by retaining ministers accused of corruption. The new Cabinet also has 10 additional ministers.

"I believe when people called for change they didn't ask for additions. They asked for change in the ... status quo, but what we see now is maintaining what existed (and) adding people to it," Ashrawi told Reuters on Wednesday.

"I assured President Arafat that once he conducts ...genuine reform, I will be willing to help him," Ashrawi told reporters in the West Bank town of Ramallah.

Her resignation is considered by some as a blow to Arafat's standing with the Palestinian public.

In leaving, Ashrawi also said she was unhappy with the way the Palestinian Authority has handled the stalled peace talks with Israel, accusing its members of "reacting and accepting American dictates."

She accused the United States of having a pro-Israel bias.

"Rather than facing up to its helplessness and powerlessness before Israel, the American administration is putting pressure on the Palestinians," she said.

Ashrawi made a name for herself worldwide as the spokeswoman for the Palestinian delegation to the historic Arab-Israeli peace talks launched in Madrid in 1991. Since then, she has been a stalwart voice in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.

She also is a human-rights and women's-rights activist.

"I will continue to represent my constituency to the best of my ability ... my commitment to the Palestinian cause, to the Palestinian people is ongoing; it will not waver in any way," Ashrawi said of her legislative work.

She did not rule out a future Cabinet post.

"I assured President Arafat that once he conducts ... genuine reform, I will be willing to help him," Ashrawi said.

Agriculture Minister Abdel Jawad Saleh also has announced his resignation, calling the Cabinet reshuffle a "tragedy." He said Arafat thwarted efforts to fight corruption by protecting high-ranking officials.

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