CAIRO – The Egyptian candidate who lost a bid to head the UN culture and education body after a row over remarks last year that he was ready to burn Israeli books has blamed the US and the Jewish lobby for his defeat.
Egyptian minister for culture Farouk Hosni lost to Irina Gueorguieva Bokova, a former Bulgaria foreign minister, in this week’s final round of voting to lead the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (Unesco).
Egypt, in 1979, became the first Arab state to sign a peace treaty with Israel but relations have stayed cool as many Egyptians and Arabs remain opposed to Israel for occupying Palestinian land.
“The campaign against me in Unesco was spearheaded in public by the United States, and several European states co-operated,” Mr Hosni said. “There were those playing behind the scenes, and they were the Jewish organisations and lobby who lit a fire of lies against me.”
Egyptian analysts said Mr Hosni, had he won the Unesco ballot, would have had to walk a tightrope on the issue of cultural ties with Israel to avoid alienating either constituents in the Arab and Muslim world or European and western nations backing him.
Mr Hosni (71) had been favourite to become the Arab world’s first Unesco director general, but his candidacy created outrage among Jewish organisations, while media-rights activists accused him of turning a blind eye to censorship in Egypt.
Since the 1979 peace deal, the US has provided billions of dollars of military and other aid to Egypt.
However, many in the region criticise Washington for what they say is its unwavering backing of Israel.
Mr Hosni stirred fierce controversy last year when, in parliament, he said he would burn Israeli books. – (Reuters)