Palestinian leader Hanan Ashrawi says the United States can learn a valuable lesson from last year's terrorist attacks and pursue a path toward peace or face a resurgence in global terrorism.

Ashrawi spoke to about 400 people this morning at a symposium at Colorado College to analyze global events following the attacks.

She became the target of sharp criticism for agreeing to be the keynote speaker at the event the day after the United States marked the first anniversary of the attacks. Ashrawi says the conference was not about Sept. 11, but rather, on the global aftermath.

Ashrawi says Palestinians have known death and destruction for decades. She condemned terrorism and suicide bombings, calling them ”absolutely tragic and unacceptable” and saying, “violence does not work.”

Ashrawi is also scheduled to speak Saturday at the University of Colorado at Boulder. Representatives of the Cultural Events Board say tickets for the speech are sold out.