Attachment B

Highlight from the articles published by Osama el-Baz, Mubarak’s political advisor, under the heading; “Truth and myth about anti-Semitism, the ‘Protocols’, Nazi persecutions and the Holocaust”



In a series of articles published by al-Ahram from 23 through 25 December 2002, President Mubarak’s political advisor Osama el-Baz concedes that the Arab world had not as yet understood the phenomena of anti-Semitism and the Holocaust. This, according to him, is explained by the remoteness of the Arab world, not only in geographical terms but also from the social and psychological points of view, from the course of events in Europe.
El-Baz further elaborates on the history of anti-Semitism in Europe, as perceived by him:


In his view, the attitude of racist discrimination and superiority of the nations of Europe is the source of the hostile feelings towards the Jews. These led to oppression, and eventually to extermination. According to him, these inhumane and barbarian phenomena started already at the time of the pogroms in Russia, and culminated under the Nazi regime.
He mentions that the “evidences” used by the doctrines of superiority and hate were supported by unfounded stories, such as: the blood libels and the Protocols of the Elders of Zion (regarding the latter, he provides numerous facts proving unequivocally that this is a forged document).
He further elaborates on the “final solution” and the systematic methods of extermination of the Jews, under which he includes: concentration inside camps, starving to death and forced deportation. He also mentions the claims that killings occurred through the use of gas, but comments that there is controversy as to whether this indeed happened.
He admits to the fact that “several millions of Jews” perished in the Holocaust.

Throughout the entire series of articles, el-Baz stresses that anti-Semitism is a European phenomenon, erroneously attributed to the Arab world. He argues that the Arabs cannot be referred to as anti-Semites, for a number of reasons:

Both the Arabs and the Jews are descendants of Abraham. He does, however, dispute the claim, used by many Arabs though in his view unsound, according to which the Arabs cannot be referred to as anti-Semites since they themselves are Semites.
Islam and the Quran respect the Jews and are in favor of co-existence with them.
Throughout the entire history, the Jews have lived in peace under Muslim rule.

El-Baz then proceeds to express his grudges against Israel. He describes the founding of the State of Israel as the adverse turning point in the relations between the Arabs and the Jews. He accuses Israel of

Identifying the concepts “Jew” and “Israeli”, which he believes to have caused confusion between the political Arab-Israeli conflict and the religious Arab-Jewish conflict. According to his view, the conflict did not derive from the Jewishness of the founders of Israel, but from the fact that they affected Arab rights and interests;
Racial stubbornness, as perceived by him, to maintain the “Jewish” identity;
Using mottos that express expansionary ambitions, such as “Greater Israel, from the Nile to the Euphrates” used by the right wing parties;
Discriminating between its Jewish and Arab citizens.

As for the practical aspects, el-Baz addresses a number of recommendations both to the Arabs and Israel, as follows:

He appeals to the Arabs and Muslims to stop using anti-Semitic expressions when criticizing the Israeli policy. This, he says, harms the interests of the Arab nation as it implies that it is inhumane. More specifically, he recommends:

That they relate to the Jews as to other human beings, no better and no worse; in this respect, he reminds that not every Jew is a Zionist-Israeli.
That they refrain from using: the terms “pigs and apes” (which he claims are an erroneous interpretation of the Quran); the Protocols of the Elders of Zion; the symbol of the “Star of David” (which according to him awakens in the Jews memories of the Holocaust); and Nazi motives.
That they refrain from interpreting the Jews in terms of conspiracy.
That they regard the moderate Israelis as peace partners, in the same way as the more radical elements are regarded as a major threat to stability in the region.
His recommendations to the Israelis are:
Instead of being a “Jewish democratic country”, to become a “country of all its citizens”.
To stop accusing of anti-Semitism all those who criticize Israel.
To put an end to the Israeli occupation. This includes: the approval of the foundation of a Palestinian state, the unilateral withdrawal from the Shabaa region, and the complete discontinuation of “settlement activities” - all of which are required in order to achieve “full-fledged” legitimacy as a state in the Middle East.
To keep away racist elements from the Government.
To consent to dismantling all unconventional weapons in the Middle East.  

(*) This chapter is based on writings by Akram Zuaiter from before 1967, which, according to the author, eventually materialized. Akram Zuaiter, one of the leaders of the National Palestinian Movement, was among those who advocated radical Pan-Arabism. He wrote several noteworthy books, used nowadays as basic textbooks in the study of Arab nationalism.

(*)    Leila Khaled: notorious terrorist, member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine - George Habash faction (currently member of the PFLP’s leadership); she participated in an attempt to hijack a TWA jet to Damascus in 1969, and in an abortive hijack attempt on an El Al jet in 1970.

Fatma Barnawi: in the past notorious terrorist, nowadays a Fatah member; she was arrested following an attempt to plant a bomb in the “Zion” cinema in Jerusalem in 1967; she is, to date, the commander of the Policewomen’s Unit in the Palestinian Authority.

 

(*) Note: obituaries published about Palestinians who committed suicide bombings, refer to the act and the death of the suicide terrorist as “wedding ceremony”. 

(**) Zaidan Muhammad Sa’id Zaidan, a youth from the Jenin refugee camp and member of the Islamic Jihad. He was arrested on 8 May 2002 at the Megiddo junction, after his handbag containing an explosive charge blew up (a so-called “work accident”). During interrogation, he confessed that he had been sent by Mahmoud Tawalbeh to carry out a suicide bombing inside Israel.

(***) Mahmoud Ahmad Muhammad Tawalbeh: a senior commander of the military faction of Islamic Jihad; he was active in the Jenin region, and was responsible for a particularly large number of suicide bombings, carried out during Intifada against Israeli civilian targets (among which: the car-bombing at the Hadera central bus station on 25 May 2001; the suicide bombing at the Binyamina railroad station on 16 July 2001; the suicide bombing at the Wall Street restaurant in Kiryat Motzkin on 12 August 2001). He was killed in April 2002 in a clash with the Israeli armed forces in Jenin, during Operation Defensive Shield.

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