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December 02, 2003OUR FRIENDS THE EGYPTIANSJewish Holy Books On Display at the Alexandria Library: 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(1) 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..." See the rest of MEMRI's report here. Posted at 12:53 PM by
 
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The learned Dr. Ziedan is sorely in need of an education, I think. Although he is correct in calling this a "dangerous book", it is not a danger for the reasons he presumes, nor is it representative of the "sacred [tenets] of the Jews, next to their first constitution, their religious law, [and] their way of life." It is, however, "a classic in paranoid, racist literature. Taken by the gullible as the confidential minutes of a Jewish conclave convened in the last years of the nineteenth century, it has been heralded by anti-Semites as proof that Jews are plotting to take over the world. Since its contrivance around the turn of the century by the Russian Okhrana, or Czarist secret police, 'The Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion' has taken root in bigoted, frightened minds around the world."
(http://www.adl.org/special_reports/protocols/protocols_intro.asp)
The doctor is either hopelessly ignorant, for which there is--especially for one in his position--no reputable excuse, or else he is the willful disseminator of a hateful lie. I would suggest, given the ancillory evidence of his canard concerning the Nazi gas chambers, that the truth resides not in the first case but the second.
For anyone still puzzling over the meaning of mendacity, Dr. Ziedan's comments might well be instructive.
Posted by: Bernard on December 2, 2003 05:50 PMHey what do you expect for only $2 billion a year in foreign aid, gratitude?
Posted by: Joel on December 3, 2003 09:57 AMSometimes I think that the solution to ending the nasty ideas that circulate in the Arab countries is to let them go Islamist, and keep them contained while the general population gets over their Islamomania...it seems to have worked in Iran (once the mullahs fall, I can see Iran as the most truly secular country in the region. The greatest cure for Islamic fundamentalism is the practice of "pure" Islamic governance, it seems.
Posted by: Jim on December 4, 2003 08:58 AMThankfully, it's been removed.
Posted by: Frank on December 10, 2003 03:43 PMPublic Statement by Dr. 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”.
Posted by: S on December 11, 2003 03:38 AM