Egyptian Minister of Culture Farouk Hosni stated in the Egyptian parliament that he "would burn Israeli books himself if found in Egyptian libraries," and Israel is filing a compliant for the remark. The incident could scuttle Hosni's proposed appointment as secretary-general of the United Nations UNESCO agency, which deals with science and education.
Shalom Cohen, Israel's Ambassador to Cairo, asked the Foreign Ministry to protest the remark, which he said "makes it impossible for Israel and for the international community to continue a regular agenda with Egypt." Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni probably will raise the issue when she participates in a summit in Sharm el-Sheikh next week with American President George W. Bush, Jordanian King Abdullah, Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak and Palestinian Authority chairman Mahmoud Abbas.