An Egyptian painter, who as Minister of Culture defended himself against charges of being soft on Israel by claiming that he’d “personally burn any Israeli book he found in Egypt’s famed Library of Alexandria,” was defeated as a candidate for head of UNESCO.

His response?

“It was clear by the end of the competition that there was a conspiracy against me,” Hosny told reporters at the airport upon his return from Paris.

“There are a group of the world’s Jews who had a major influence in the elections who were a serious threat to Egypt taking this position,” he said.

And Obama wonders why it is that the Middle East is at an impasse??
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