Egypt: Protocols on display with Torah scrolls

MEMRI reports that "recently, a manuscript museum opened at the new Alexandria Library, which was renovated by the Egyptian and Italian governments via UNESCO. In the November 17, 2003 issue of the Egyptian weekly Al-Usbu', correspondent Jihan Hussein reported that the museum had added 'The Protocols of the Elders of Zion' to the display case of the holy books of the monotheistic religions, next to a Torah. The book on display is the first translation of the 'Protocols' into Arabic, by Muhammad Khalifa Al-Tunisi, and its binding, according to the report, features 'a Star of David, the Bolshevik Jewish symbol, surrounded by symbolic snakes.' The following is an interview with the museum's director, Dr. Yousef Ziedan, in which he explains why he decided to add the 'Protocols' to the exhibit:
'The Protocols of Zion Are More Important Than the Torah'

"'When my eyes fell upon the rare copy of this dangerous book, I decided immediately to place it next to the Torah. Although it is not a monotheistic holy book, it has become one of the sacred [tenets] of the Jews, next to their first constitution, their religious law, [and] their way of life. In other words, it is not merely an ideological or theoretical book.

"'Perhaps this book of the "Protocols of the Elders of Zion" is more important to the Zionist Jews of the world than the Torah, because they conduct Zionist life according to it... It is only natural to place the book in the framework of an exhibit of Torah [scrolls].'

"Dr. Ziedan maintains a website 'for heritage and manuscripts' where he posts, among other things, articles that he writes. In his article "WWW and the Informatics Plexus [sic]," Dr. Ziedan writes of the difference between reality and reporting on reality:

"'...There is no doubt that every 'news item' originates in a [particular] event, but the distance between the event and the news item is great... I will give an example: When Hitler's atrocities are mentioned, [people] immediately point out the cremation of the Jews in the gas chambers. This happens because of the knowledge that is passed on regarding the Holocaust.

"'This is knowledge that has reached the world via a diverse stream of information from journalists' reports, historical research, compensation, [the] unceasing buzz in the media, and films such as Schindler's List which made the entire world cry and which was banned in our country [Egypt] so that we won't cry too over the fate of the poor Jews!'

"'What is important is that the information arrived, but what about reality? In reality, 50,000,000 fell victim to the Nazis, among them 1,000,000 Jews and the rest Gypsies, Poles, and other nations. In reality, an analysis of samples from the purported gas chambers has proven that these were sterilization chambers, without a sufficient quantity of cyanide to kill.

"'In reality, had Hitler wanted to annihilate the Jews of Europe, he would have. He had an opportunity. The distance between events and widespread knowledge about them is great.'"

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4 Comments

rick mcginnis | December 2, 2003 1:36 PM

Ten years ago, the only people I knew who talked about the Protocols were Slav anti-semites, and the only place to buy it was online, from Aryan Nations-type sites, or at white-power gatherings. I never thought it would come to this - the mainstreaming of the Protocols, at least in the Arab world.

And UNESCO helped fund this?

One more reason to despair of the world.

Jerry Gordon | December 2, 2003 3:47 PM

Blood libel and Jew hatred never ceases in the Arab Islamic world. Witness this despicable act of putting on display the Czarist forgery and prototypic blood libel next to a Torah in an exhibit of books of monotheistic religions in Egypt sponsored in part by UNESCO in Alexandria, Egypt!! It's a good thing I passed on buying any cards from UNESCO eons ago.

So does the delegitimzing excess of Islam know no lower depths. Unfortunately not, as represented by this latest revelation of Egyptian government sponsored hate. At least the US and Israel ought to try and object to this hateful display and get the sponsoring body in Egypt to change it, immediately!! The UN won't. That's for sure.

That international conference on the nefarious Protocols of the Elders of Zion scheduled for 2005, can't come fast enough. Think that's something? Walk into any Japanese airport book story, today and you'll see the Protocols on sale in several languages. I guess that's why the accursed Tojo Militarist clique in WWII Japan invented the Fugu plan to take advantage of Intenational Jewry's control of the banks, the media, the oil...the world! How'd they get that way. Kuhn Loeb's Jacob Schiff refused to lend to the Russians during the Risso Japanese War of 1905 in protest agianst progroms committed by Czarist black hundreds against Jews fomented by...you guessed it, The Protocols. I guess the Japanese xenophobic militarists thought it would last. It didn't fortunately for mankind.

The nuts roll on as we say!

Orbit Rain | December 2, 2003 6:43 PM

My God, wtf is wrong with these people?! Does anyone know who is collecting an expansive list of UN funded fuck-ups like this?

From UNESCO's website:

"Education, Social and Natural Science, Culture and Communication are the means to a far more ambitious goal: to build peace in the minds of men."

Tell me, how does this build peace in the minds of men again?

Sherif Elaish | December 8, 2003 5:19 AM

Public Statement by Ismail Serageldin

Alexandria, 4 December—The following statement is attributable to the Director of the Library of Alexandria, Dr. Ismail Serageldin:

“Recent press reports concerning the presence of the first Arabic translation of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion in an exhibition in the Bibliotheca Alexandrina deserve a prompt and clear reply. Preliminary investigation determined that the book was briefly displayed in a showcase devoted to rotating samples of curiosities and unusual items in our collection. The book was never displayed alongside the Jewish Torah nor has it ever been stated that it is a holy book or the basis for a Jewish constitution. The book is a well-known 19th century fabrication to foment anti-Jewish feelings.

“The book was promptly withdrawn from public display, but its very inclusion showed bad judgment and insensitivity, and an internal administrative hearing is underway to determine whether further action is to be taken.

“The Bibliotheca Alexandrina is profoundly committed to its role as a center of learning and a place promoting tolerance, dialogue and understanding between peoples, cultures and civilizations. We are honored to work with distinguished international partners in promoting these universal ideals”.

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