In a recent TV interview, Egyptian cleric Safwat Higazi said that while "the first choice of the Muslims is peace," they "welcome war" as a means of liberating Palestine and restoring the "United States of the Arabs." During the interview, which aired on the Egyptian Al-Kahera Wal-Nas TV on August 14, 2012, Higazi expressed his hope that the Islamic Caliphate would be restored, saying: "The day will come when we will be the masters of the world."
Following are excerpts:
We Welcome War As A Means To Restore The United States Of The Arabs
Interviewer: "In the era of the Muslim Brotherhood – or the era of the Islamic movements – will new fronts be opened against Israel – including an Egyptian front – in order to make Jerusalem the capital of the 'United States of the Arabs'?"
Safwat Higazi: "Liberating Palestine and restoring the United States of the Arabs does not necessarily have to be done through weapons or war. We Muslims are not warmongers. We seek peace. We want to get what is rightfully ours."
Interviewer: "How can you get 'what is rightfully yours' from a country like Israel without war?"
Safwat Higazi: "I did not say that I would take what is mine through peaceful means. I said that this is my first choice. The first choice of the Muslims is peace. If not through peace, there is nothing preventing war. We welcome war."
Interviewer: "How can a peace-seeking Muslim like you issue a fatwa stating that anyone who sees an Israeli on the street must kill him?"
Safwat Higazi: "If that Zionist is fighting me, occupying my country, and killing people who are my brothers in country, religion, and humanity – then it's an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth, and whoever started it is to blame."
Peace Came Through 1973 War, Not Camp David Accords
Interviewer: "What ever happened to peace-seeking?"
Safwat Higazi: "We extended our hand in peace, but it was rejected. What else is left to do?"
Interviewer: "When did you offer peace?"
Safwat Higazi: "Did Egypt not offer peace throughout all these years?"
Interviewer: "Are you for or against the Camp David Accords?"
Safwat Higazi: "I am against them."
Interviewer: "Then you are against peace."
Safwat Higazi: "Absolutely not. This equation is completely wrong."
Interviewer: "Was it not the Camp David Accords that brought peace?"
Safwat Higazi: "This equation is wrong..."
Interviewer: "Please, just answer my question. Was it not the Camp David Accords that brought peace to Egypt?"
Safwat Higazi: "Absolutely not. It was the 1973 war that brought peace. If not for the Egyptian victory in that war, there would be no peace. How come there was no peace before the 1973 war?"
Interviewer: "How did peace come about?"
Safwat Higazi: "Through the Egyptian victory in the war."
Interviewer: "Through what means?"
Safwat Higazi: "Peace came through the 1973 war. With the crossing of the Suez Canal, we crossed into peace. Had we not crossed the Canal, there would have been no peace." [...]
"The Day Will Come When We Will Be The Masters Of The World"
"One of the tenets of the Muslim Brotherhood, which they cannot renounce, is the Islamic Caliphate and the ruling of the world. Yes. The day will come when we will be the masters of the world." [...]
