Ganaim, 'Nakba caused by collapse of Islamic body'
Photo: Dudi Vaknin
MK Ganaim calls for Islamic caliphate in Israel
On completion of first year in Knesset, Arab MK tells Nazareth newspaper 'it is in the Jews' interest, since their golden era was under this caliphate'
Knesset Member Masud Ganaim (United Arab List-Ta'al) believes "an Islamic caliphate should be established and it should include Israel." In an interview to Nazareth-based paper Kul al-Arab, Ganaim presented his opinion of the situation at the end of his first year in Knesset.
"I believe there is an urgent need to return to the Islamic caliphate. I believe this is the most fitting solution to the state of weakness, deterioration and erosion the Arabs and Muslims are suffering from," Ganaim said when asked if, as a devout Muslim, he believes an Islamic regime should be established in "Palestine or the Arab and Islamic homeland."
He said, "We are not necessarily talking about Israel here, but I believe an Islamic caliphate would be in the interest of the Jews themselves, since their golden era was under this caliphate."
In the interview, which was published over the weekend, the Knesset member said, "We believe the Nakba stemmed from the weakening and the collapse of the Islamic body, and we must therefore strengthen the Islamic body."
Of the fate of the State of Israel in such a situation, Ganaim said it would be included in the greater Islamic state. "We are not against the Jews, but against the Zionist movement and its racist ideology. We have no objection to the Jews managing their own matters themselves."
When asked about a possible conflict with Iran, Ganaim clarified that he backs the Iran-Hezbollah-Syria axis. "I am against any aggression and any alliance that does not serve the Arab interest. I support the righteous party. The Iran-Hezbollah-Syria axis represents the line of resistance and intractability, and naturally, I support this axis."
He added, "Hezbollah is the security valve of the residents of Lebanon. Hassan Nasrallah has properly combined the political and religious plan."
