Former Egyptian First Lady Gihan Al-Sadat: "I Hope Palestinian Leaders Realize that Obama Is their Golden Opportunity"

Following are excerpts from an interview with former Egyptian first lady Gihan Al-Sadat, which aired on Al-Arabiya TV on May 8, 2009.

Gihan Al-Sadat: [Al-Sadat] called upon the Arabs to join the negotiations [with Israel], but they refused. He told them that if they had a solution, he would be willing to go along with it, but they didn't have any solution. As a leader responsible for his country, was he expected to wait 30 years – and indeed, 30 years have passed by now – until they decide whether they want peace or not? Don't forget what happened in Gaza – the unjust bombing of the Palestinians in Gaza...

Interviewer: The recent aggression...

Gihan Al-Sadat:...which broke our hearts... Egypt could have been subjected to the same thing, if it did not have peace with Israel. If not for the peace signed by Anwar Al-Sadat, Israel would have bombed a school here, a hospital there in Egypt. Egypt would have been subjected to the same aggression as Gaza, if Anwar Sadat had not protected Egypt from this. Over the past 30 years – look how many Palestinians have been killed, look how many homes have been destroyed in Gaza and elsewhere, look what material damage they have suffered. If they had listened to Anwar Al-Sadat, and had reached an agreement with Israel, all of this could have been prevented.

[...]

Many people opposed the Camp David Accords, but believe me, many of them sent me letters, and told me, during dinner parties and meetings, that although they had been against Camp David and Anwar Al-Sadat, they now consider him to have preceded his time. They say: "When we see what is going on in Gaza, we know that this man saved Egypt from a great disaster."

[...]

Interviewer: Have you forgiven [the assassins]?

Gihan Al-Sadat: Of course. God forgives us humans, so how can I, as a human being, not forgive, especially since they admitted that they had been in the wrong? It's over. That was his fate, and I have forgiven them.

[...]

Interviewer: Is it true, as has been said, that at one point, before the [1952] revolution, Al-Sadat was a member of [the Muslim Brotherhood] – especially since during his presidency, the Muslim Brotherhood enjoyed a "honeymoon period"?

Gihan Al-Sadat: Yes, yes.

Interviewer: Was he really a member of the Muslim Brotherhood?

Gihan Al-Sadat: Yes, yes, yes. In fact, as a child, I believed strongly in the Muslim Brotherhood. They were established in Al-Roudha. Al-Hudhaybi lived in Al-Roudha. These young men had moral values, faith, and ideals. I took pride in them to the point that I would collect what little money I could from my family and friends, and I would go to Al-Hudhaybi's place, who lived almost next door, and I would knock on the door and give him the envelope. Of course, this was peanuts to him. He would look at me, just a girl, and would laugh and pat me on the shoulder. He would thank me, and I would be happy, because I was sure I had done a great patriotic act, by helping the Muslim Brotherhood. I still believe there are many moderates and rational people among them, who want to change the image caused by a wing of terror and murder, which arose all of a sudden among them, and which is rejected by everybody. Many among the Muslim Brotherhood have also rejected this fanatic wing. Allah willing, our Lord will guide them to accept the country's regime.

[...]

I hope to see peace in my lifetime, and I hope that the Palestinian leaders realize that Obama is their golden opportunity, and if they do not take advantage of this opportunity, only God knows what will become of the Palestinian cause.