The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood launched presidential candidate Muhammad Mursi’s campaign with the promise that “the capital of the Caliphate – the capital of the United States of the Arabs – will be Jerusalem,” according to a transcript obtained by MEMRI.
Egyptian Cleric Safwat Higazi, chosen to initiate Mursi’s campaign at a rally aired on Al-Nas TV on May 1, 2012, began by describing Mursi as the man that would restore a supra-national Islamic government: “We can see how the dream of the Islamic Caliphate is being realized, Allah willing, by Dr. Muhammad Mursi…his supporters, and his political party. We can see how the great dream, shared by us all – that of the United States of the Arabs… will be restored by this man and his supporters.
“The capital of the Caliphate – the capital of the United States of the Arabs,” he continued, “will be Jerusalem, Allah willing!”
Not long afterward, Higazi reiterated the campaign promise, but this time in more unequivocal language: “Our capital shall not be Cairo, Mecca, or Medina. It shall be Jerusalem, Allah willing. Our cry shall be: ‘Millions of martyrs march toward Jerusalem! Millions of martyrs march toward Jerusalem!'”
The crowd responded in kind: “Millions of martyrs march toward Jerusalem! Millions of martyrs march toward Jerusalem! Millions of martyrs march toward Jerusalem!”
Taking his cue from Higazi, the attending master of ceremonies embarked on a lengthy anti-Semitic ode, repeating over and over again, to the delight of the eager crowd, “[b]anish the sleep from the eyes of all Jews…Come on, you lovers of martyrdom, you are all Hamas. From the eyes of all Jews… Forget about the whole world, forget about all the conferences…Brandish your weapons… Say your prayers…”
“We say it loud and clear,” Higazi intoned, “Yes, Jerusalem is our goal. We shall pray in Jerusalem, or else we shall die as martyrs on its threshold. Millions of martyrs march toward Jerusalem!”
“Millions of martyrs march toward Jerusalem!” the crowd responded.
Egyptian Presidential elections are scheduled to take place May 23-24. Of the twelve candidates, Mursi, former Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa, and Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh are considered the frontrunners. Moussa, unabashed in his anti-Israel and anti-American views, and has been quoted as saying that the Egypt-Israel peace treaty is “dead and buried.” Aboul Fotouh, formerly of the Muslim Brotherhood and currently considered the “moderate” frontrunner, is endorsed by the the radical Salafi Al-Nour Party, which believes in implementing strict Sharia law.
MEMRI contributed to this report.
