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Tuesday, August 13, 2013

UNRWA investigating educator who quotes Hitler (UPDATE)

From the Washington Free Beacon:
The United Nations’ refugee arm has launched an investigation into one of its top Jordanian officials after he posted on his Facebook page a “motivational” poster featuring Nazi leader Adolf Hitler.
Dr. Fares Haider, reportedly the dean of education at the U.N.’s Relief Works Agency’s (UNRWA) educational facilities in Jordan, posted on his “official” Facebook page a picture of Hitler saluting, along with a quote from the Nazi leader.
UNRWA, which is primarily funded by the United States, is responsible for the education of some 485,000 Palestinian children throughout the Middle East.
“Military rules for success … Assad Allah good morning all,” Haider wrote along with the picture, according to the Israel-based Center for Near East Policy Research.
The text accompanying Hitler’s image reads: “The two most important rules in order to be successful—the first: never give up. The second: remember the first rule,” according to a report and translation performed by pro-Israel blogger Elder of Ziyon.
The quote is attributed directly to “Adolf Hitler.”
Haider’s Hitler post has garnered 31 “likes” since it was first posted on May 13, and was “presumably meant for students,” according to Elder of Ziyon.
An UNRWA official told the Washington Free Beacon that it would be investigating Haider’s post and will take “disciplinary” action if it is warranted.
“UNRWA takes all allegations of misconduct by its staff very seriously; an investigation will be carried out; if a staff member is found to have behaved improperly, there will be disciplinary consequences,” UNRWA spokesman Chris Gunness told the Free Beacon.
It turns out that this wasn't the only Hitler poster Haider put on his Facebook page. Here was his "Poster of the Week" for May 22: (h/t JPP)


It says:

"'You have two ways to have the highest building: Either you destroy all the buildings around you, or you build higher than the others.' - Adolf Hitler"

I don't know if this is an actual quote by Hitler.

Haider is a big fan of motivational posters and slogans for his students to achieve their goals, and he apparently thinks that Hitler is just as good a source for these slogans as anyone else.

(h/t Ibn Boutros)

UPDATE: The posters have been taken down.