Text of Begin’s Address to Egyptians

Following is the text of Premier Menachem Begin’s dramatic appeal to the people of Egypt broadcast by Israel Radio in English on Friday, Nov. 11:

Citizens of Egypt, this is the first time that I address you directly. But it is not for the first time that I think and speak of you. You are our neighbors and always will be.

For the last 29 years, a tragic, completely unnecessary conflict continues between your country and ours. Since the time when the government of King Farouk ordered the invasion of our land, Eretz Yisrael, in order to strangle our newly restored freedom and independence, four major wars took place between you and us. Much blood was shed on both sides. Many families were orphaned and bereaved, in Egypt and in Israel.

In retrospect, we know that all those attempts to destroy the Jewish State were in vain, as were all the sacrifices you were called upon to make in life, in development, in economy, in social advancement. All these superfluous sacrifices were also in vain and may I tell you, our neighbors, that so it will be in the future. You should know that we came back to the land of our forefathers, that it is we who liberated the country from British rule, and we established our independence in our own land for all generations to come.

We wish you well. In fact, there is no reason whatsoever for hostility between our two peoples. In ancient (times), Egypt and Eretz Yisrael were allies, real friends and allies against a common enemy from the north. Yes, indeed, many changes have taken place since those days, but perhaps the intrinsic basis for friendship and mutual help remains unaltered.

REAL PEACE FOREVER

We the Israelis stretch out our hand to you. It is not, as you know, a weak hand. If attacked, we shall always defend ourselves as our fathers, the Maccabees, did, and won the day. But we do not want any clashes with you. Let us say one to another, and let it be a silent oath by both peoples, of Egypt and Israel: no more wars. No more bloodshed and no more threats. Let us not only make peace. Let us also start on the road to friendship, sincere and productive cooperation. We can help each other. We can make the lives of our nations better, easier, happier.

Your President said two days ago that he will be ready to come to Jerusalem to our Parliament, the Knesset, in order to prevent one Egyptian soldier from being wounded. It is a good statement. I have already welcomed it and it will be a pleasure to welcome and receive your President with the traditional hospitality you and we have inherited from our common father, Abraham. I, for my part, will of course be ready to come to your capital, Cairo, for the same purpose. No more wars. Peace real peace, and forever.

CITES PORTION OF THE KORAN

It is the holy Koran in Surah five that our right to this land was stated and sanctified. May I read to you, our neighbors, this eternal Surah: “Recall, when Moses said to his people: O, my people, remember the goodness of Allah towards thou when he appointed prophets among you. O my people, enter the Holy land which Allah had written down as yours.”

It is in this spirit of our common belief in good, in divine providence, in right and in justice, in all the great human values which were handed down to you by the Prophet Mohammed and by our Prophets Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel. It is in this human spirit that I say to you, with all my heart: shalom. It means sulh and vice versa, sulh means shalom.