The current edition of Biblical Archaeological Review includes a seven page ad for Archaeological Paths, which offers exclusive tours of Egyptian sites.
All of their ads prominently feature Zahi Hawass, "The World’s Most Famous Archaeologist," who used to be the Minister of Tourism and Antiquities in Egypt.
He is also an antisemite.
In 2009 he told an Egyptian TV interviewer that the Jews control the entire world.
He also told an Arab newspaper that "the concept of killing women, children, and elderly people ... seems to run in the blood of the Jews of Palestine" and that "the only thing that the Jews have learned from history is methods of tyranny and torment—so much so that they have become artists in this field."
In 2010, he said "the Ibrahimi Mosque and the Mosque of Bilal Ibn Rabah [The Cave of the Patriarchs and Rachel's Tomb] have no connection whatsoever with Jewish history, "
When Egypt was restoring synagogues, Hawass supported the effort - but only as tourist sites. He said he would not allow any Jew to pray in the restored Maimonides synagogue in Cairo.
He is clearly an antisemite. And yet nobody seems to have a problem with this self-promoting hater.
Beyond that, there is evidence that Hawass is corrupt. His tour agency boasts:
The Royal Egypt Tour provides unparalleled access to the wonders of ancient Egypt and offers special entries to sites that are off-limits to the general public....The Royal Tour offers private entrances to the entire Giza pyramid complex and the Luxor Temple outside of opening hours. Only with us will you stand between the paws of the Great Sphinx and gain exclusive access to the places closed to the public! Thanks to special permission granted by the Minister of Antiquities, you will see the Tombs of the Pyramid Builders in Giza, an active excavation site. With Archaeological Paths you will experience Egypt like no one else!Dr. Zahi Hawass: "No one can tour Egypt like this. Except for you – when you come and join me. You will visit many unique sites that very few people can see. You will be treated like royalty, this is why we call it the Royal Tour."
So Zawass can bring tourists to places that are not open to the public, because of special permission given to him by the Minister of Antiquities - which he himself used to be.
He is given special treatment and is allowed to enrich himself because of his connections in the Egyptian government, and the corruption is mutual.
Is it a favor? Does the ministry take a cut from the tours? Either way, for the nation of Egypt to give preferential treatment to a former minister that enriches him is clear corruption.
This sort of corruption is normal for Egypt. Before Israel took over Rafah, Egypt granted an exclusive license to a tour operator with connections to the ruling party in order to charge exorbitant rates for Gazans to escape Gaza. He made millions of dollars.
Instead of publishing ads for his tour, Biblical Archaeology Review should be investigating exactly what this Jew-hater is doing on his tours, how he has access that no one else has, and find out how deep this corruption goes.
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