memri
March 19, 2009 Special Dispatch No. 2270

Lebanese Liberal 'Uqab Saqr Fails to Persuade Self-Proclaimed Extremist Yasser Qechlaq to Refrain from Antisemitic Incitement

March 19, 2009
Lebanon | Special Dispatch No. 2270

Following are excerpts from a debate between Lebanese intellectuals Yasser Qechlaq and 'Uqab Saqr, which aired on ANB TV on February 16, 2009.

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"I Refuse to Acknowledge Any Jew... as a Human Being... He Is an Abject, Filthy, And Usurping Terrorist"

Yasser Qechlaq, owner of dp-news.com: "We are facing a society that believes in nothing but force, violence, crimes, and the killing of our children and women."

'Uqab Saqr: "They also believe in rationality."

Yasser Qechlaq: "Hold on. I refuse to acknowledge any Jew, whoever he may be. I do not acknowledge his holy books or holy places, nor do I acknowledge this Jew as a human being. I acknowledge just one thing: That he is an abject, filthy, and usurping terrorist, and I curse him..."

'Uqab Saqr: "This serves Israel..."

Yasser Qechlaq: "No, no..."

"This Kind Of Talk Serves Israel - There Are Jews Who Defend the Palestinian Cause More Than Some Palestinians"

'Uqab Saqr: "This kind of talk serves Israel. There are Jews who defend the Palestinian cause more than some Palestinians."

Yasser Qechlaq: "I refuse to acknowledge any Jew in the world, because he refuses to acknowledge my existence as a Palestinian."

'Uqab Saqr: "Neturei Karta is the most important Jewish group and they do not recognize Israel."

Yasser Qechlaq: "Give me a break. Just because some Jewish activists do not recognize Israel, you want to convince me that there is a moderate camp to make peace with?"

'Uqab Saqr: "All I ask is that you draw a distinction between the Jews and the Israelis."

"I Am A Palestinian Extremist... Israel is a European-American Project... Planted In My Region; This Cancer Must Be Uprooted... America is the No. 1 Dictatorship"

Yasser Qechlaq: "I do not acknowledge the Jewish religion. I am a Palestinian extremist. I am an extremist for my land."

[...]

'Uqab Saqr: "The Koran respects the monotheistic religions."

Yasser Qechlaq: "Nevertheless, I do not acknowledge [them]."

'Uqab Saqr: "You are doing Israel a service without realizing it.

[...]

"When it’s a case of Muslims against Jews, the Jews win Western public opinion, whereas when it’s a case if Palestinians and Israelis, the West supports the Palestinians."

Yasser Qechlaq: 'You tell me that we should embarrass Israel. Do you think Israel can be embarrassed in the West? Israel humiliates France, the EU, and America. Israel is a European-American project which was planted in my region. This cancer must be uprooted.

[...]

"America is the number one dictatorship in the world. Look at the torture in their prisons. Where are human rights?"

'Uqab Saqr: "Who are they doing all this to?"

Yasser Qechlaq: "To us."

'Uqab Saqr: "Give me a break. If only we would treat our own people..."

Yasser Qechlaq: "Why should we borrow these concepts from them? They export democracy to us. You criticized Muntazer Al-Zaidi for throwing his shoes at this democracy..."

'Uqab Saqr: "I wasn’t criticizing. I merely said that in America..."

Yasser Qechlaq: "You criticized this shoe, which is a manifestation of this failed democracy. I welcome any dictatorship that allows me to wage resistance, in order to restore my rights and my honor. I welcome any dictatorship in the world."

"If You Establish A 'Dictatorship' Like Israel Or America Here - I Will Kiss Your Hands"

'Uqab Saqr: "It is ridiculous that we call America a dictatorship because of Abu Ghuraib. In the Arab world, there are 100,000 Abu Ghuraibs, which the rulers use against their own peoples.

[...]

"I hope that all Arab regimes, starting with our Syrian neighbor, will treat their peoples like Israel and America treat their own peoples. If you establish a 'dictatorship' like Israel or America here, I will kiss your hands. "

Yasser Qechlaq: "We don't want it."

'Uqab Saqr: "Maybe you don't want it, but I do." [...]

Al-Qaeda Is "A Jewish Organization with Jewish Roots And Culture"

Yasser Qechlaq: "If you go to America and defend Al-Qaeda, even though it is a Jewish organization with Jewish roots and culture... If you defend it, you will go to jail."

'Uqab Saqr: "You will be treated according to the law. You might go to jail, but at least your family will know where you are."

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