An anti-Israeli as new Unesco director-general?

Philosopher Bernard-Henri Lévy, film director Claude Lanzmann and Nobel laureate Elie Wiesel criticise the possible appointment of Egyptian Minister of Culture Farouk Hosny as Unesco director-general, pointing to his anti-Israeli stance: "Who declared in 1997 and in many different tones since that he was 'a stubborn enemy' of any attempts to normalise relations between his country and Israel? Who answered an alarmed member of the Egyptian parliament who was concerned that Israeli books could be transferred to the library in Alexandria saying: 'Let us burn these books'? … And worse still: the sentences mentioned here are just some - and not even the most appalling - among many similar statements that have accompanied the career of Farouk Hosny for around fifteen years. … It is obvious: Farouk Hosny does not deserve the post [of Unesco director-general]. He is the opposite of a man of peace, dialogue and culture. He is a dangerous man, one who inflames hearts and souls."

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