Ouze Merham
Encyclopedia
In the first decade of the 21st century, a paragraph alleged to come from a 1956 interview of Ariel Sharon
, conducted by an Israeli Defence Force general named Ouze Merham, was quoted in a number of publications. The paragraph advocates burning Palestinian children and raping Palestinian women and Arab girls. The interview, the paragraph, and Ouze Merham himself have been denounced as fabrications. In 1956 Sharon, who later became Prime Minister of Israel
, was a major
in the IDF.
and elsewhere in conjunction with anti-Israel commentary, including on IslamOnline
; the English language Pakistani newspaper, The Nation; and the London-based Arabic newspaper, Al-Hayat
, which published the quote in a July 11, 2005, opinion article. As'ad Abdul Rahman, chairman of the Palestinian Encyclopedia, used the quote as his lede for an opinion piece about alleged Jewish control of the world media in the Gulf News
of December 4, 2004.
A student columnist
used the quote in her December 11, 2003 Daily Illini
column, but later admitted the quote was false and apologized.
The incident was still being discussed as late as 2007.
A columnist for The Hoya
, the student newspaper of Georgetown University
in Washington, D.C., used the quotation on March 19, 2002, introducing it with "Then again, we shouldn't be surprised about Sharon's feelings toward Palestinians; in 1956 when talking with Israeli General Ouze Merham, he said […]"
The Daily Star English-language newspaper in Bangladesh
published the quotation on January 31, 2005 in a commentary article by retired Brigidier General M. Abdul Hafiz, who introduced the quotation with "Back in 1956 in an interview with general Ouze Merham, Sharon, a remorseless butcher of Sabra and Shatilla, said […]"
(CAMERA), there is no record of any Israeli general named "Ouze Merham" existing, nor any record of Sharon giving such an interview in 1956. It is also unclear why an Israeli general would interview Sharon (who, at the time, was only a major), and then publish the interview. CAMERA has also stated that the quote cannot be found in any text book, news article, or published record.
The quotation was reportedly put on the website of MIFTAH, a Palestinian organization founded by Hanan Ashrawi
, who is on the executive committee of the group's governing board. MIFTAH has been accused by the Israeli group NGO Monitor
of fabricating the quotation.
announced Sharon as the winner of the "Most Islamophobic International Politician of the Year" award at the 2003 Annual Islamophobia Awards ceremony. The host told the recipient, described as a "Palestinian freedom fighter," to personally deliver the award to Sharon.
In a June 9, 2004 interview on Australian Broadcasting Corporation
's The Religion Report, interviewer Stephen Crittenden
challenged Arzu Merali, the organizer of the Islamophobia awards, on the Sharon presentation. Crittenden pointed out that the IHRC's own website stated that the alleged interview could not be corroborated. Merali replied "Well you know, I can take that further with the people who researched that, but pretty much everything that went out last year was well researched. If you want, I’ll go out and dig up the verification for you. I’m happy to do it."“
Stephen Crittenden: No prizes for Australian audiences guessing that the prize for the most Islamophobic international politician went to Ariel Sharon last year, but I was rather shocked to see that on your website, Ariel Sharon is nominated for an interview in which he described wanting to burn Palestinian children and encouraging his soldiers to rape Arabic girls, and describing Palestinian women as ‘slaves for Jews’, all of which you say yourselves on your website, comes from an interview that can’t be verified for its authenticity.
Arzu Merali: Well you know, I can take that further with the people who researched that, but pretty much everything that went out last year was well researched. If you want, I’ll go out and dig up the verification for you. I’m happy to do it.”
The IHRC website continues to state that the veracity of the quote has not been confirmed:
Ariel Sharon
Ariel Sharon is an Israeli statesman and retired general, who served as Israel’s 11th Prime Minister. He has been in a permanent vegetative state since suffering a stroke on 4 January 2006....
, conducted by an Israeli Defence Force general named Ouze Merham, was quoted in a number of publications. The paragraph advocates burning Palestinian children and raping Palestinian women and Arab girls. The interview, the paragraph, and Ouze Merham himself have been denounced as fabrications. In 1956 Sharon, who later became Prime Minister of Israel
Prime Minister of Israel
The Prime Minister of Israel is the head of the Israeli government and the most powerful political figure in Israel . The prime minister is the country's chief executive. The official residence of the prime minister, Beit Rosh Hamemshala is in Jerusalem...
, was a major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in the IDF.
Media usage
The disputed quotation was published by a number of media outlets and websites in the Muslim worldMuslim world
The term Muslim world has several meanings. In a religious sense, it refers to those who adhere to the teachings of Islam, referred to as Muslims. In a cultural sense, it refers to Islamic civilization, inclusive of non-Muslims living in that civilization...
and elsewhere in conjunction with anti-Israel commentary, including on IslamOnline
IslamOnline
Islamonline is a global Islamic website on the Internet providing services to Muslims and non-Muslims in several languages. Its motto is "credibility and distinction." Sunni Muslim scholar....
; the English language Pakistani newspaper, The Nation; and the London-based Arabic newspaper, Al-Hayat
Al-Hayat newspaper
Al-Hayat is one of the leading daily pan-Arab newspapers, with a circulation estimated over 200,000. It is the newspaper of record for the Arab diaspora and the preferred venue for liberal intellectuals who wish to express themselves to a large public....
, which published the quote in a July 11, 2005, opinion article. As'ad Abdul Rahman, chairman of the Palestinian Encyclopedia, used the quote as his lede for an opinion piece about alleged Jewish control of the world media in the Gulf News
Gulf News
Gulf News is a daily English language newspaper published from Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates with a December 2009 BPA audited circulation of over 117,036 qualified copies...
of December 4, 2004.
A student columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
used the quote in her December 11, 2003 Daily Illini
Daily Illini
The Daily Illini, commonly known as the DI, is an independent, student-run newspaper that has been published for the community of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign since 1871...
column, but later admitted the quote was false and apologized.
The incident was still being discussed as late as 2007.
A columnist for The Hoya
The Hoya
The Hoya, the oldest and largest student newspaper of Georgetown University in Washington, DC, was founded in 1920. The Hoya prints an edition every Tuesday and Friday during the academic year and has a circulation of 6,500...
, the student newspaper of Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
in Washington, D.C., used the quotation on March 19, 2002, introducing it with "Then again, we shouldn't be surprised about Sharon's feelings toward Palestinians; in 1956 when talking with Israeli General Ouze Merham, he said […]"
The Daily Star English-language newspaper in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
published the quotation on January 31, 2005 in a commentary article by retired Brigidier General M. Abdul Hafiz, who introduced the quotation with "Back in 1956 in an interview with general Ouze Merham, Sharon, a remorseless butcher of Sabra and Shatilla, said […]"
Called a hoax
According to the Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in AmericaCommittee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America
The Committee for Accuracy in Middle East Reporting in America is an American non-profit pro-Israel media watchdog group. The group says it was founded in 1982 "to respond to the Washington Post's coverage of Israel's Lebanon incursion", and to respond to what it considers the media's "general...
(CAMERA), there is no record of any Israeli general named "Ouze Merham" existing, nor any record of Sharon giving such an interview in 1956. It is also unclear why an Israeli general would interview Sharon (who, at the time, was only a major), and then publish the interview. CAMERA has also stated that the quote cannot be found in any text book, news article, or published record.
The quotation was reportedly put on the website of MIFTAH, a Palestinian organization founded by Hanan Ashrawi
Hanan Ashrawi
Hanan Daoud Khalil Ashrawi is a Palestinian legislator, activist, and scholar. She was a protégé and later colleague and close friend of Edward Said. Ashrawi was an important leader during the First Intifada, served as the official spokesperson for the Palestinian Delegation to the Middle East...
, who is on the executive committee of the group's governing board. MIFTAH has been accused by the Israeli group NGO Monitor
NGO Monitor
NGO Monitor is a non-governmental organization based in Jerusalem, Israel whose stated aim is to generate and distribute critical analysis and reports on the output of the international NGO community for the benefit of government policy makers, journalists, philanthropic organizations and the...
of fabricating the quotation.
Islamic Human Rights Commission award
Based on the reported Ouze Merham interview, the Islamic Human Rights CommissionIslamic Human Rights Commission
The Islamic Human Rights Commission is a non-profit organization. Its stated mission is to, "... work with different organizations from Muslim and non-Muslim backgrounds, to campaign for justice for all peoples regardless of their racial, confessional or political background.". The group is...
announced Sharon as the winner of the "Most Islamophobic International Politician of the Year" award at the 2003 Annual Islamophobia Awards ceremony. The host told the recipient, described as a "Palestinian freedom fighter," to personally deliver the award to Sharon.
In a June 9, 2004 interview on Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
The Australian Broadcasting Corporation, commonly referred to as "the ABC" , is Australia's national public broadcaster...
's The Religion Report, interviewer Stephen Crittenden
Stephen Crittenden
Stephen Crittenden is one of Australia's leading religion journalists and a broadcaster for ABC Radio National.-Early career:Crittenden began his radio career as a schoolboy, broadcasting with Sydney's classical FM community radio station 2MBS-FM...
challenged Arzu Merali, the organizer of the Islamophobia awards, on the Sharon presentation. Crittenden pointed out that the IHRC's own website stated that the alleged interview could not be corroborated. Merali replied "Well you know, I can take that further with the people who researched that, but pretty much everything that went out last year was well researched. If you want, I’ll go out and dig up the verification for you. I’m happy to do it."“
Stephen Crittenden: No prizes for Australian audiences guessing that the prize for the most Islamophobic international politician went to Ariel Sharon last year, but I was rather shocked to see that on your website, Ariel Sharon is nominated for an interview in which he described wanting to burn Palestinian children and encouraging his soldiers to rape Arabic girls, and describing Palestinian women as ‘slaves for Jews’, all of which you say yourselves on your website, comes from an interview that can’t be verified for its authenticity.
Arzu Merali: Well you know, I can take that further with the people who researched that, but pretty much everything that went out last year was well researched. If you want, I’ll go out and dig up the verification for you. I’m happy to do it.”
The IHRC website continues to state that the veracity of the quote has not been confirmed:
Whilst this quotation can be found on several reputable sites, we could not independently verify its authenticity. If you know the source please do let us know.
External links
- Control Issues from The Chicago ReaderThe Chicago ReaderThe Chicago Reader is an American alternative weekly newspaper in Chicago, Illinois, noted for its literary style of journalism and coverage of the arts, particularly film and theater. It was founded in 1971 by a group of friends from Carleton College...
, published week of June 28, 2002. - Letter to Miftah from Ami Isseroff of MidEastWeb (Mirror), published December 23, 2004.
- Illini vs. Israel from FrontPageMag.comFrontPageMag.comFrontPage Magazine is a conservative online political magazine, edited by David Horowitz and published by the David Horowitz Freedom Center , a non-profit organization in Los Angeles, California.-FPM Man of the Year:On January 1, 2007, FrontPage Magazine named Ignacio Ramos and Jose...
, published March 24, 2004.