In June 2009, internationally renowned Egyptologist and Egyptian Supreme Council of Antiquities secretary-general Zahi Hawass[2] made headlines when he gave U.S. President Barack Obama a personal guided tour of the Pyramids.[3] In February 2010, Dr. Hawass was in the news following the culmination of the two-year international and interdisciplinary investigation into King Tut's death that he led.[4] A New York Times article last week noted his role in the restoration of one of Cairo's most historic synagogues and the yeshiva of Rabbi Moses ben Maimon, or Maimonides. The article quoted Dr. Hawass as saying, "It's part of our history. It's part of our heritage," and states that he also promises that six more synagogue buildings in Cairo will be restored within two years.[5]

Yesterday, Dr. Hawass attended a Washington, DC ceremony at which he collected a stolen Egyptian sarcophagus that had been seized by U.S. Customs officials (above).[6] He praised the U.S. for its role in recovering the sarcophagus and other stolen Egyptian antiquities.[7]

According to his website, Dr. Hawass holds an honorary doctorate from the American University in Cairo, and was one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People of 2005.[8] He is spokesman for CNN on archaeological news in Egypt, is Explorer-in-Residence of the National Geographic Society, received the 2000 Distinguished Scholar of the Year Award from the Association of Egyptian-American Scholars, was awarded a Mellon Fellowship, was a Fulbright scholar, and received an Emmy for his performance in a documentary.[9] He frequently briefs members of the entertainment industry[10] including Shakira at Giza,[11] Samuel L Jackson at the 33rd Cairo International Film Festival,[12], and actor Vin Diesel. He has presented copies of his books to former U.S. First Lady Laura Bush,[13] and given President Obama a replica of his own hat.[14]

In February 2009, Dr. Hawass asserted on Egyptian TV that the Jews control the entire world, stating that it was their "unity that gave them this power" (to view this clip, visit http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/2049.htm ). Just last month, in February 2010, he stated that he had said to "the rabbi in Washington... [that] under no circumstances will I open a Jewish [antiquities] museum" until "the Palestinians get their rights" (to view this clip, visit http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/2406.htm).

Following are the transcripts of the two clips...[More.]