Egyptian who 'would burn Israeli books' is Unesco candidate

Published on Friday 11 September 2009 22:07

WITH elections to the world's top cultural post looming, Egypt's candidate is working hard to overcome scepticism generated by a promise last year to burn any Israeli books found in Egyptian libraries.

Culture minister Farouk Hosni, 71, is among the favourites to be elected head of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco) on Thursday. He would be the first Arab Muslim to hold the post.

While his candidacy has been opposed by leading Jewish intellectuals, including Nobel Prize laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel, Mr Hosni gained the endorsement of France's most famous Nazi hunter, Serge Klarsfeld, on Tuesday.

Apart from the Israel issue, Mr Hosni has been criticised for being part of an Egyptian regime that quashes freedom of expression, jailing bloggers and banning heavy metal music.

Mr Klarsfeld said he was endorsing Mr Hosni because of his "public position on the shoah (Holocaust)". Many in the Arab world deny the Holocaust but Mr Hosni has condemned it.

Mr Klarsfeld added that it was important that an Egyptian heads Unesco because "Egypt is home to one of the oldest and most remarkable civilisations".

Mr Hosni told an Islamic fundamentalist member in the Egyptian parliament last year: "I'd burn Israeli books myself if I found any in libraries in Egypt." He said later he did not mean to be taken literally and apologised.

His chances of becoming head of Unesco have been boosted by Israel, even though as a minister for 22 years Mr Hosni banned all cultural contacts with the country.

In its initial response to his candidacy, Israel repeatedly insisted it was inconceivable that someone who advocated burning books could head the organisation charged with protecting world culture. But in May, prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu dropped Israel's opposition after a summit meeting with Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak.

"We don't know what Israel got in return, whether it concerned security, the border, Gaza, the international scene or the Palestinian issue," said an Israeli official. "I assume some deal was made."

Mr Hosni has argued there could be no "normalisation" with Israel until the Palestinian issue is resolved. But in recent months he has softened. His ministry is now sponsoring the translation of several Israeli authors into Arabic and has speeded up restoration of synagogues in Cairo. Mr Hosni has also promised he will visit Israel as Unesco chief.