IMRA Newsletter
Correspondence with UNESCO on Protocols of Elders of Zion in Alexandria
Western Galilee Academic College - Akko, Israel
bd_lerner@hotmail.com dovb@wgalil.ac.il
10 January 2004
Here is the final installment of my correspondence with the UNESCO Spokeswoman regarding the display of the Protocols of the Elders of Zion in the new library in Alexandria. Read from bottom up to follow the correct chronological order. It is interesting to compare her first letter, which promises
"The facts reported by you were indeed drawn to the attention of the Director-General. Thereupon, he immediately gave instructions that an investigation be carried out in order to ascertain the truthfulness of these allegations.... You may rest assured of UNESCO's continued concern and vigilance in this important matter."
With her final statement:
"UNESCO having obtained satisfaction from the authorities of the Library of Alexandria in the matter of the public display of the Protocols, we consider that it cannot take any further action. You will certainly understand that it cannot interfere in the internal affairs of a national institution."
Perhaps this could serve as a useful precedent for Israeli responses to UN criticism. Next time a UN agency complains about Israel's policies towards the Palestinians, an Israeli "authority" should just pick up a phone to the appropriate Director-General and promise that everything is OK, thus allowing the UN to "obtain satisfaction."
----- Original Message ----- From: de Pierrebourg, Muriel To: 'Berel Dov Lerner' Sent: Friday, January 09, 2004 6:12 PM Subject: RE: Query regarding library exhibit First, let me reiterate UNESCO's continuing concern about the promotion of anti-Semitism and its readiness to do whatever it can to counter it, with due regard for its position as an intergovernmental agency. It intercedes at the level appropriate to it, i.e. with its partners, both governmental and intergovernmental, or through the media in cases where the Organization is directly involved. UNESCO having obtained satisfaction from the authorities of the Library of Alexendria in the matter of the public display of the Protocols, we consider that it cannot take any further action. You will certainly understand that it cannot interfere in the internal affairs of a national institution. It is for the Director of the Library, as he deems fit, to determine the truthfulness of and take action on the original report and the statements attributed to the director of the Manuscripts Museum. Investigative journalists are of course free to pursue the matter to their own satisfaction. Best regards Muriel de Pierrebourg Porte-parole du Directeur général Spokeswoman for the Director-General UNESCO 7, Place de Fontenoy 75007 Paris Tel : 00 33 1 45 68 13 26 Fax : 00 33 1 45 68 55 66 -----Message d'origine----- De : Berel Dov Lerner [mailto:bd_lerner@hotmail.com] Envoyé : jeudi 8 janvier 2004 18:22 ¿ : de Pierrebourg, Muriel Cc : secretariat@bibalex.org; information@wiesenthal.net; imra@netvision.net.il; MEMRI Objet : Re: Query regarding library exhibit Thank you for your very prompt response. Please allow me to trouble you with one further question. May I assume from your response that UNESCO has taken no action on the "Protocols" affair beyond talking to the Western press and to the Library's director (which has led to the removal of the Protocols from display), and has undertaken no investigative steps beyond asking for clarifications from the Library's Director? Many thanks, Berel Dov Lerner ----- Original Message ----- From: de Pierrebourg, Muriel To: 'Berel Dov Lerner' Sent: Thursday, January 08, 2004 6:44 PM Subject: RE: Query regarding library exhibit Thank you, for your message, unfortunatly, I'm not in the capacity to give you more information on this matter. I sent you all the elements I received. May I suggest you to contact directly the Director of the Librairy who annouced an internal enqury ? Best regards and all best wishes for the new Year. Muriel de Pierrebourg -----Message d'origine----- De : Berel Dov Lerner [mailto:bd_lerner@hotmail.com] Envoyé : jeudi 8 janvier 2004 08:52 ¿ : de Pierrebourg, Muriel Cc : secretariat@bibalex.org; information@wiesenthal.net Objet : Re: Query regarding library exhibit I realize that I first sent this letter close to the Christmas/ New Year holiday, so that it may have easily been lost among a sea of accumulated email. I hope you won't mind that I have taken the liberty of resending it. With all best wishes for the New Year, Berel Dov Lerner ----- Original Message ----- From: Berel Dov Lerner To: de Pierrebourg, Muriel ; secretariat@bibalex.org ; information@wiesenthal.net Sent: Monday, December 15, 2003 1:02 PM Subject: Re: Query regarding library exhibit Dear Ms. de Pierrebourg, Thank you for your informative response. Mr. Serageldin's comments and news of the Library's internal measures are most welcome. I am sure that UNESCO's own investigation must have brought to light objective evidence corroborating Mr. Serageldin's version of the events in question. Granting the quite reasonable assumption that Mr. Serageldin's version is, in fact, accurate, I assume that the Library and UNESCO have taken steps both against the Egyptian journalist who published the fabricated version of the "Protocols affair" as well as steps to make the Egyptian public aware of the true course of events. I would appreciate it if you could tell me just a little more regarding the methods and findings of UNESCO's investigation and the measures taken to clear the Library's good name among the citizens of Egypt. My thanks to you again. Best regards, Berel Dov Lerner ----- Original Message ----- From: de Pierrebourg, Muriel To: 'Berel Dov Lerner' ; 'secretariat@bibalex.org' ; 'information@wiesenthal.net' Sent: Monday, December 15, 2003 12:04 PM Subject: RE: Query regarding library exhibit Dear Mr Lerner, Following UNESCO's firm position and reaction, the Director of the Library of Alexandria, Mr Serageldin publicaly stated, on 4 December 2003: "the book was promptly withdrawn from public display" (...) "but its very inclusion showed bad judgment and insensitivity, and an internal administrative hearing is uderway to determine whether further actions are to be taken" he added. He also precised that "Preliminary investigation determined that the book was briefly displayed in a showcase devoted to rotating samples of curiosities and unusual items in our collections. 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 well-known at a 19th century fabrication to foment anti-jewish feelings" he said. This communiqué was comprehensively relayed by medias. For additionnal information, please find enclosed the message by Mr Matsuura on the occasion of the seminar dedicated to the Protocols of the Elders of Zion: A Paradigm for Contemporary Hate" (Venice, 7-8 December 2002). Best regards Muriel de Pierrebourg De : Berel Dov Lerner [mailto:bd_lerner@hotmail.com] Envoyé : samedi 13 décembre 2003 19:56 ¿ : de Pierrebourg, Muriel; secretariat@bibalex.org Cc : information@wiesenthal.net Objet : Re: Query regarding library exhibit Dear Ms. de Pierrebourg, After our exchange of letters, I read media reports regarding UNESCO's firm treatment of the Protocols affair. Has the investigation been concluded? I have not seen any mention of the results of the investigation in the news media. Many thanks and best regards, Berel Dov Lerner ----- Original Message ----- From: de Pierrebourg, Muriel To: 'Berel Dov Lerner' ; secretariat@bibalex.org Cc: information@wiesenthal.net Sent: Friday, December 05, 2003 1:14 PM Subject: RE: Query regarding library exhibit Thank you for contacting UNESCO. The facts reported by you were indeed drawn to the attention of the Director-General. Thereupon, he immediately gave instructions that an investigation be carried out in order to ascertain the truthfulness of these allegations. It appears from an initial response given by the competent services of the Library of Alexandria that the forgery known as The Protocols of the Elders of Zion is not on display in its premises. We are now waiting for an official written confirmation of this information from the highest authorities of the Library. You may rest assured of UNESCO's continued concern and vigilance in this important matter. Muriel de Pierrebourg Porte-parole du Directeur général Spokeswoman for the Director-General UNESCO 7, Place de Fontenoy 75007 Paris Tel : 00 33 1 45 68 13 26 Fax : 00 33 1 45 68 55 66 -----Message d'origine----- De : Berel Dov Lerner [mailto:bd_lerner@hotmail.com] Envoyé : mardi 2 décembre 2003 23:47 ¿ : secretariat@bibalex.org Cc : spokesperson@unesco.org; bpiweb@unesco.org; information@wiesenthal.net Objet : Query regarding library exhibit Importance : Haute Dear Sirs, I have just seen the following item that is being circulated on the Internet: ************************************************************************ 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. "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]." ************************************************************************ Is this story factually accurate? Many thanks, Berel Dov Lerner Lecturer in Philosophy Western Galilee Academic College Akko, Israel bd_lerner@hotmail.com dovb@wgalil.ac.