Spokesmen for Frontrunners in Egyptian Elections Discuss Annulment of Peace with Israel

Following are excerpts from a TV debate between spokesmen for Egyptian presidential candidates Hamdeen Sabahi and Abd Al-Fattah Al-Sisi, which aired on Al-Manar TV on April 3, 2014:

Interviewer: Hamdeen Sabahi drew a lot of fire in the previous elections, when he said he would conduct a referendum over the so-called peace accord with Israel, which was imposed upon the Egyptians. Do you have the clout to pressure Sabahi to actually support the annulment of the Camp David Accords?

Tamer Hindawi, spokesman for Hamdeen Sabahi's presidential campaign: Our enmity with the Zionist enemy goes to our very existence. It's either us or them. No peace is possible. That's what we believe. The Zionist enemy is clearly the head of colonialism in the region. In our view, the Camp David Accords are responsible for many of our crises, and might even be the main reason for Egypt's subjugation to America, and for the decline in its role as an Arab, Islamic, and African leader. If it were up to me, I would abolish the Camp David Accords right now. But if you ask about Sabahi's campaign position – Sabahi believes that the Zionists are our enemy, but when the historic moment arrives, he will decide what action to take.

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Mahmoud Badr, spokesman for Abd Al-Fattah Al-Sisi's presidential campaign: I say loud and clear that Al-Sisi will hold extensive discussions about what the Egyptian people gain from these accords. If it turns out that we do not need them, I believe that Al-Sisi will not hesitate and will put them to a referendum.

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Tamer Hindawi: We support anyone who points his gun at the Zionist enemy.

As long as they point their weapons at the Zionist enemy, we support them, but we are against anyone who turns his gun elsewhere.

Mahmoud Badr: I say the same thing: We support anyone who fights the Zionist enemy, but if these weapons are turned towards Egypt, we will chop off the hands that hold them.

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