What they say: Chirac, Dawkins, Jones, Alderton

What the politician, the scholar, the entertainer, the Royal aides say:


President Jacques Chirac at the Anglo-French Summit in Le Touquet, February 2003:
"On the middle East, Chirac was sceptical that the Americans would do anything, said power was not in Washington but in the Jewish population of New-York."
The Blair Years, Alastair Campbell, Hutchinson, 2007 (page 662)

Richard Dawkins, The Guardian:
"When you think about how fantastically successful the Jewish lobby has been, though, in fact, they are less numerous I am told - religious Jews anyway - than atheists and [yet they] more or less monopolise American foreign policy as far as many people can see. So if atheists could achieve a small fraction of that influence, the world would be a better place."

Life of Brian director Terry Jones talks to Marc Lee about the scene he cut from the legendary Python film, The Daily Telegraph:
"A new DVD edition of the film includes the deleted "Otto" scene, which features a radical, first-century Jewish revolutionary who has the same dreams as the young Adolf Hitler. Otto sports a toothbrush moustache, and, in case we still haven't got the message, his disciples all wear a symbol that combines the Star of David with a swastika. These are "Nazi Jews".
Jones insists he didn't make the cut to avoid giving offence.
"It was a very funny scene," he says, "but it wasn't relevant; it wasn't part of the story. When I took it out, the film just flowed so much better."
He regretted having to cut the scene at the time and regrets it even more so now.
"I think what it addressed is extremely relevant today," he says, "with what's going on in Israel. Eric [who wrote the scene] put his finger on something; it was quite prophetic.""

Leaked e-mail pitches Prince Charles into heart of row over royal visit to Israel, The Times:
"Internal e-mails between two of the Prince's closest aides make clear that there was "no chance ever" of Clarence House accepting an invitation to visit Jerusalem. The e-mails, published in The Jewish Chronicle today, also disclose a fear that Israel would want the Prince "to help burnish its international image." …
The initial response from Sir Michael was enthusiastic. In an e-mail to Mr Heifetz and copied to his deputy, he says: "The invitation to Israel is hugely appreciated and Clive and I would love to come."
However, by the time that Mr Alderton responded to Sir Michael six days later, the ardour had cooled. Mr Alderton wrote: "Safe to assume that there is no chance of this visit ever actually happening? Acceptance would make it hard to avoid the many ways in which Israel would want HRH to help burnish its international image."