Subscribe Today
Request a Clip
Following are excerpts from a debate between Lebanese intellectuals Yasser Qechlaq and 'Uqab Saqr, which aired on ANB TV on February 16, 2009.
Yasser Qechlaq, owner of www.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...
'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.
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.
'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.
[...]
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.
Latest Clips
