Muslim, Italian and Zionist
Author Magdi Allam has put his life on the line with his newest book, 'Long Live Israel,' and says he sees the country as the last bastion against Islamic terror's war on the world.
By Saviona ManIt's not every day that a Muslim intellectual puts his own head on the line to defend Israel's right to exist. But that is exactly what Magdi Allam, an Egyptian-born Italian writer and journalist, has been doing for years. He recently published a book whose name alone is enough to endanger his life: "Long Live Israel - From the Ideology of Death to the Civilization of Life: My Story."
Allam defends Israel even though Hamas condemned him to death in 2003, after he denounced the group's terror attacks. Because of this threat, the Italian government has provided him with round-the-clock bodyguards. But Allam is not afraid. He finds it hard to "live an armored life," but he tells Haaretz in an interview, "I'm willing to pay the price in order to continue to be who I am, to write and speak freely." Those who cut out tongues and slit throats will not subdue him, he writes in the book.
Allam, 55, is the assistant editor of Corriere della Sera and the 2006 Dan David Prize laureate. His new book, which immediately became a best-seller in Italy, is part of his consistent and uncompromising fight against extremist Islam and for Israel's right to exist. In addition, he is trying to convince people that "the culture of hatred and death that the West now attributes to Muslims is not embedded in Islam's DNA."
In "Long Live Israel" ("Viva Israele" in Italian), Allam directly links the denial of Israel's right to exist to the death cult being nurtured in fundamentalist Islamic circles, and refers to "the ethical erosion that has led to even the denial of the supreme value of the sanctity of life." Allam sees Israel as "an ethical parameter that separates between lovers of civilization and those who preach the ideology of death." The sanctity of life, he writes, "applies to everyone, or to no one."
Sanctity of life
In recent days Allam's attention has been focused on another major event - the birth of his son, Davide, brother to Sofia, 27, and Alessandro, 23. Allam says he and his wife Valentina Colombo chose the name Davide "because in the battle for life during the pregnancy, Davide subdued his Goliath, and because it meshes with the name of my new book."
And speaking of names, weren't you afraid when choosing such a strong, even provocative name for the book?
"Those who like me and more or less agree with me see it as a provocation. 'What did you need this for, don't you have enough problems?' they asked. Those who don't like me and condemn me for my opinions see this as additional proof that I am a traitor to the Arab cause and an enemy of Islam, have sold myself to Israel and work for the Mossad. But for me, 'Viva Israele' is a song of praise to Israel's life and to everyone's life. My book opens with the words: 'What you are about to read is a declaration of faith in the sanctity of life, 'the sanctity of life of every human being.'"
Allam was not always a defender of the Jewish state. "'Zionism' was a dirty word for me," he admits in his book. For years he considered Israel an aggressive, racist, colonialist, immoral entity, and he accepted the methods of the Palestinian struggle and its leader Yasser Arafat, "without criticizing the fact that Fatah adopted the path of terror extensively inside and outside Israel." After emigrating from Egypt to Italy in 1972, he even enlisted actively for the Palestinian cause, writing, lecturing and participating in demonstrations by the Italian left: "I also shouted 'Long live Palestine! Long live the Palestinian resistance!'" he writes in the book. "My passion for the Palestinian cause was strong, as was my enthusiasm for Arafat's personality."
In his new book he describes his long road from profound admiration for Arafat and "the prophet of pan-Arabism," Gamal Abdel Nasser, and strong support for the Palestinian cause, to his unreserved support for Israel. "I want to tell you about my slow and tortured path from the ideology of lies, tyranny, hatred, violence and death, to the culture of truth, freedom, love, peace and life, until it ripened into absolute certainly that defending the sanctity of life is more than ever in keeping with defending Israel's right to exist," he writes. At the end of this "slow and tortured path" he reached the conclusion that the Arab countries' refusal to recognize Israel during the 1950s and 1960s hurt the Palestinians, and that Arafat was a tyrant, a megalomaniac, corrupt and corrupting, and the worst disaster to befall them.
Regarding the present situation in Gaza, Allam says he never had any illusions about Hamas. "I thought it was a big mistake to allow a terror organization to participate in elections. Condoleezza Rice and Tony Blair deluded themselves in believing that Hamas' very participation in the government would turn the group into a pragmatic political power," he says. "Instead, it turned out that Hamas will never recognize Israel's right to exist, will not relinquish terror and will not honor international agreements signed by the Palestinian Authority. Hamas wants absolute rule in order to impose sharia and to revive the international Islamic caliphate. As it pushes for absolute rule, it does not hesitate to massacre its Palestinian brothers in Gaza. It will try to do the same thing in the West Bank."
Do you believe the Israeli-Palestinian conflict can be solved before the "ideology of death" is uprooted - that even if Israel returns all the territories it occupied in 1967, it will continue to live by the sword?
"The Israeli withdrawal from Lebanon and Gaza demonstrates that the problem is not the need to withdraw from territories occupied in preemptive wars, but rather the Arabs' lack of desire to recognize Israel's right to exist. Israel erred in 1967 when it accepted the formula of territory for peace, and thus placed its very existence up for public auction. Experience teaches that the right to life cannot and should not be a subject for negotiation and bargaining. No negotiations should be held with extremists and terrorists who deny Israel's right to exist."
Interrogation trauma
Allam believes the defeat of the Arabs during the Six-Day War was the watershed between the waning of pan-Arabism and the rise of pan-Islamism. Allam, who was then 15, remembers the war, the brainwashing, the deceptive Egyptian propaganda machine, the blind admiration of Nasser and the masses he joined in the streets calling on Nasser not to resign. He devotes a substantial part of his book to the war: three autobiographical chapters seasoned with the fragrances, sounds, colors and flavors of his beloved Aunt Adreya's home and the streets of Naguib Mahfouz's Cairo - a colorful, pluralistic and tolerant city where girls wore miniskirts and boys sported Beatles haircuts.
This was the city where he was detained, interrogated and imprisoned at age 15 by the Muhabarat, the secret services, on suspicion of spying for Israel, because of his relationship with a Jewish girl, also 15 and "the first true love of his life." "The trauma of that interrogation at the Muhabarat barracks accompanied me until that day on Christmas Eve 1972, when I left Egypt to continue my studies in Italy."
In the book you lovingly describe your childhood. Do you miss Egypt? Do you visit often?
"I miss an Egypt that no longer exists and that continues to live inside me thanks to the memories, the songs of Umm Kulthum, the novels of Naguib Mahfouz and the films of Yusuf Shahin. I long for the social fabric that embodied a genuine love of others and a simple life where emotion was more important than money. Unfortunately, for reasons of personal security, I haven't been back to Egypt since 2002."
Regarding the question of the Islamization of Europe, Allam says, "Europe is already a bastion of Islamic extremism. Just look at attack on Mike's Place in Tel Aviv, which was carried out by British suicide bombers drafted by Hamas; the massacre by Islamists in Madrid and in London; the slitting of director Theo Van Gogh's throat in Amsterdam; and the dozens of Islamic terror attacks that were prevented in Britain, France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and Holland.
"This bastion exists thanks to a widespread network of mosques, Koran schools, financial bodies and charitable institutions linked to the Muslim Brotherhood; Moroccan, Tunisian and Algerian Salfists; Saudi Wahabis; Al-Qaida jihadis and Pakistani groups. This multicultural Europe, which has trampled its values and betrayed its identity, is satisfied with reacting to the obvious terror, which is only the tip of the iceberg, but is afraid to deal with terror's ideological and organizational roots."
Why don't we hear the voices of the moderate imams?
"Because they're afraid. They're a minority and they're afraid. Only a handful of Islamic intellectuals, journalists, women and clerics have shown courage and condemned terror and Islamic extremism, and as a result they were sentenced to death by the terrorists. But make no mistake, even those moderates who condemn Islamic terror often legitimize terrorists who massacre in Israel. They feel there is good terror, which massacres Israelis, and bad terror, which threatens their lives."
What do you believe is the best way to deal with the Iranian threat?
"Israel has to prevent the Nazi-Islamic government of [Ali] Khamenei and [Mahmoud] Ahmadinejad from acquiring nuclear weapons. I don't place my faith in the United Nations and I have no illusions about the Bush administration, which now wants only to leave Iraq without losing face. And of course I don't count on a weak, cowardly and divided Europe. I believe Israel is the last bastion in Islamic terror's war against all of human civilization. Therefore I hope Israel will have a strong national unity government, determined to confront the most serious threat to world security since World War II."
Last year, when he came here for his fourth visit, in order to receive the Dan David Prize, he visited Yad Vashem. This was "an experience that left an indelible impression on me," he says. "I hope that some day Israel will capture Ahmadinejad and force him to live the rest of his life between the walls of Yad Vashem."
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As a reply to Ali, who proclaims to be an Iraqi living in Amman, Jordan. I find your openess of mind to be refreshing. I lived for 11 years among arabs, in an arab nation. I found most to be friendly, amiable sort of people. Unless you mentioned three things a) the west is now superior b) Isreal (whatever context) and c) you are agnostic, or even atheist. All three things got you in trouble. If arab people (muslim&non-muslim) can learn to NOT HATE on these subjects, the middle east will be at peace. I apologize for capitalizing, but it is there for the reason that it is like a knee-jerk reaction...you mention it, and those friendly, kind people are turned to snarling hatemongers. A bit like ringing a bell to one of pavlov's dogs.
People like him remind me, why i continue to judge people as individuals (unlike the Radical Islamist/Jihadists and their apologists). He is a true credit to his people and a hero for being so public. And no matter how terrible its present looks, Islam has hope.
The Arab's and Jews are a mirror image of each other. Mr Allam should delve into the extremist part of Israel. Start by living in Palestine for a few months. You will find that the Jews treat the Plastinians no different to the way the Arabs treat the South Asians (slaves).
DON'T DO ME ANY FAVORS
Magdi Allam is not a muslim but a Coptic traitor from Egypt. Read it at wikipedia.org the whole world is listenting this lie a great muslim has converted to Catholicism without understanding the statement as he was an opportunist as many likes of Daniel Pipes, say things out right lie against muslim world media will listen to make you rich, you have run but you can not hide from the lie as Bush did for Iraq. God Bless.
What difference does it really make if someone converts from one religion to another? Absolutely none I am afraid. All religions are basically the results of myths taking on a life of their own. Judaism, Islam, Christianity and every known religion is really a big business. Oll those offerings made to JHWH or Baal in the old Testament were ways for people to offer the priests a living. Thus, the priestcast had power over the ignorant masses that thought them to be ordained and chosen by some deity, when in fact it was myth. So convert all you want, you are still suckers for the priestcast that exploits you. Magdi Allam, your conversion does not get you any nearer heaven or a god that man created. Sure, you feel a bit better having converted, but that is a psychological effect, not reality.
The honorable Mr Allam is a man of courage and vision.
Just wanted to add support for this article and it's subject!
This is nothing but a complete hypocricy but I understand,because in the Middle east they say, "The Enemy Of my Enemy is my FRIEND"right ? but when Mr.Mordechai Vanunu came out to speak his mind for world peace he was sent to prison and he's still under house arrest......HELLO !!! Where's every body ? Conscience anyone ? Israelis & Jews in general should know that crazy religious groups are found in every faith And I never heard one single Israeli official says something against,Gush Emunim a closed minded terrorist organization but it's OK ..because by an Israeli standard a terrorist like Baruch Goldstein is consedered a hero or one of the new Jewish kings.
I was linked to this page by my Zionist friend who lives in Montreal, and to be honest; as an Iraqi, an Arab, and a Muslim ... I cannot deny that we were fed with hatred against Israel eversince our childhood years, by the scholar curriculum, and the mass media, on the other side, I remember stories my parents whispered of how they lived in peace with their Jew neighbours in Iraq, something we never lived to witness! In my opinion, regardless of the authenticity of Israel, it is here today, and apparently, it is doing well, being the only progressive democracy amongst corruptive and repressed neighbouring nations ... I truly believe it is time for us to spread hands for peace, and try to make the most of the status ... as a Muslim, I believe peace remains the objective of all religions, not talking here about misled interpretations or subjective manipulations that all religions had gone through along history, apparently Islam is the current victim, I still have hopes for peace inshalah
Unfortunally few of you read in italian. Magdi Allam is a manicheism jurnalist. Bossi (Lega Nord Party) loves him so much. All the sciovinist left loves him. He is the muslim every wasp would have in his country: he don't want mosques to build in Italy and for him all practising muslims are terroris. Gad Lerner (Hebrew left jurnalist) reject his Viva Israele. I'm reading Benny Morris Victim. In the second chapter tell us about corupted journalists paied by sionist political man... I don't know if he is paied, but I know he is not a journalist but an opinionist. What kind of serious journalist shall say:"I don't watch at Al Jazeera"??? Well... all the bad things on al jazeera... but if he is a journalist should study... or not? PS sorry for my english
May be you are right when you talked about my fascist leader, but you are totaly in wrong when you say that i work for the government, i have been in jail 2 times in syria because i am against the regim there, second, i am located in damascus weather u like it or not, and not only people work for the government have internet or printer .. so correct ur information. any way, all what i wanted to say, we dont need people like Sadat or Allam, those people will never get the relations better between the west " including Israel" and the Middel East but they simply simple ... put the oil on the fire ... i hope your answeres is not always based on ignorance and hate ...
The incident in which a school was bombed happened long after the six days war (during HATASHA) and it was a mistake, and Israeli government appologized. Nothing like that can be said about Arab atrocities since the 19'th century till these very present days.
Those who call him a Quisling/Capo have a specific political agenda but do not let facts to interfere with their conclusions. The main thing about Quisling/Capo is that they live under the opressor. There is a lot to say about Israel NOT being the opressor of the Palestinians (at least not the typical opressor; e.g., in Judea-Samaria (aka West-Banc) there was no university at 1967, but many were established under Israely rule - before Oslo agreement - and none after Oslo agreement), but in this case this gentleman does NOT live under Israeli rule, so he has a complete freedom to choose his way and express his opinions. This clearly pulls the carpet beneath the case of calling him a traitor. And he is not the only one: Joseph Farah, Wafa Sultan, and Brigitte Gabriel - to name a few.
I agree that Ilan Pappe is a brave man. He has spent his entire life fighting that hate culture of contemporary racist Zionism. Thank you for mentioning one of my heroes, Andre.
Is Magdi Allam or Ilan Pappe a brave man or a Quisling? We have to use the same test to decide. The test is simple: if somebody collaborates with an authoritarian hate-culture on the other side against his own innocent people, misusing freedom of talk in his own community - he is a Quisling. If somebody risks his life by speaks up against the hate-culture of an authoritarian regime - he is a brave man or woman. So, test says Ilan Pappe is a Quisling and Magdi Allam is a brave man.
Every nation produces Quislings. His long and tortured road is exactly the same road followed by every colonial collaborator in history.
The fact that he made such a transformation is amazing. To openly speak about having such pro-Israeli views as a muslim is putting his life at risk. Very brave man.
they worked hand in hand with france when it occupied Algeria (for 132 years) and after the independence of Algeria they fled to france where they live like Lepers . some of their kids turned to drugs , alcohol, suicide , many changed their names and moved away . they are the Harkis . many people who have no conscience and sell their soul to money wont last long they ll be despised by his community .
what an idiot . supporting Occupation and oppression and ghettos is morally wrong and does harm to any Democracy .
"And now that I am not blinded with arab lies, think back I remember clearly how civilized the IAF was at 1967 war, see they controlled the skies of Egypt since day one, they bombed all the military targets but NEVER touched or harmed one civilian or civilian target." The problem, Victor, is that Arabs in general & Egyptians in particular do not bother holding annual memorial ceremonies to remember their dead or heroes like the Israelis do. I remember an Egyptian school that was bombed by the IAF (Bahr El-Baqar if my memory doesn't fail me) and close to 400 students were killed. Even Egyptian soldiers who died during the 1967 war are barely remembered by young Egyptians! Compare this with young Israelis who commemorate their fallen soldiers and heros for the last 100 years! If a tree fell in the rain forsts of South America and you did not hear it fall, it doesn't mean that it never fell. Ask your parents and grand parents and they'll tell you some nice bed-time stories.
Reading the responses from to this article brings-up one simple question: Why do you admire people like Allam for his intellectual courage and at the same time discredit higher cliber, better educated and more knowledgable people like Professors Ilan Pappe & Ariel Toaff or Ex Knesset Member Avraham Burg? Are you being intellectually honest? If Allam was an Israeli intellectual who wrote abook entitled "Viva Palestine" would you have showered him with all this (obviously patronizing) praise? Be honest with yourself!
Only people related to the government have internet access in Syria, where you can't own a copy machine in order to prevent you from spreading "propaganda" against the regime (just as it was in the USSR). So either you work for the Syrian government, or you are staying abroad and enjoying rights you cannot enjoy in Syria - from the time your e-mail was sent I guess you are in the USA. And by the way...not even you believe that somebody risking his life for his belief does thi "for a few Dollars". You and yur fascist leader can't even wipe the coat neither of Sadat nor of Magdi Allam.
The truth cuts deep and harshly doesn't it Egyptian? Especially when it comes from someone who really knows the truth about the corrupt and hateful arab/muslim nations.Long live Mr. Allam... You are greatly admired.
He is a supporter of Israel and even visits Hevron. http://www.amislam.com/
The true essence of Islamic faith has helped Magdi Allam in search of truth and realities which are enshrined in the Holy Book but unintelligent people have given a perverted meaning. I can say Magdi Allam is only a tip of the iceberg and in course of time both Moslems and people of the celestial faiths will come together to live in peace.
This article, and this tzaddik firmly put to rest the debilitating debate about national identity and the malaise that have overtaken Israeli society in the age of intifada. To his very great credit, Magdi Allam recognizes and understands what so many Jews seem to have forgotten -- that our historical and ethical role on Earth is to serve as a moral beacon, reminding the nations of the earth of what is right, even (tragically and repeatedly) at our own peril. Reverence for the sanctity of life infuses our culture and sets us apart from those who embrace evil -- the Amalek of every generation. Odd words from an agnostic Jew, but the only way I can honestly respond to the great soul of this man. Y'asher koach, Magdi Allam!
Thank you, Victor, for your moving personal testimony. Always enjoy reading your posts on this Forum. Peace!
Magdi Allam is a great man, I know him personally. I think many Israelis and Jews shoud read his recent book VIVA ISRAELE, they will learn loving Israel a little more. GH Freedom, I didn't know that judaism have oppressors.
Israel should trade Burg, the entire Olmert family (the non-yordim members), and Haaretz's editorial staff for this guy.
Reading this article gives me new faith in the power of freedom, education and humanity. Magdi Allam has done much more than just free himself from darkness, hatred and oppression, he also has the amazing courage of a man willing to speak against evil, even at great risk to his life. May God bless him and bring him peace and happiness!
WOW what an intellectual... what a shame that others like him or even some moderates Islam do not speak out against terror. Hope Magdi stays safe... he's a pleasant voice
It is easy to recognize the "Stockholm syndrome" here. Egyptians have been the helpless victims and willing servants of Western colonialism for centuries(Nasser's Pan-Arabism being an abortive blip in the historical narrative) and such unending national loss of dignity and self-esteem produces these strange characters.
miagdi malam appears to be more israeli then the israeli's......folks like malam mean well,but we all know,the road to hell is filled with good intentions.....iraq is a perfect example.... expanding the bloody war in the middle east i.e. iran is beyond lunacy...
I admire the courage of this guy. For us, outside Islam, it's just wonderfull to know that Islam itself is not a monolitical structure... there are people thinking about great issues of our times. Bravissimo Mr.Magdi Allam
It is clear that Allam is an enlightened mind. The enemy of our freedom is the Soviet style oppression in many countries of the world. The Soviets thought they have started a constructive revolution in 1917. The loyal supporters believed in the 1917 revolution, just like the Iranians in 1979 or Hamasim in 2006. A twisted logic of the leaders stole the fruits of the revolution, and when the secret police came, the oppression was greater than under the Czars, or Arafat, or the Shah. The corrupt leaders - and the corrupt rich people have created an alliance with each other and the result is a terrible oppression. The problem is not Islam or Judaism, but the oppressors in the name of Islam and Judaism. Can we defeat all of our oppressors together?
This is such a true story cause I could relate to it , I grew up too in Cairo during Nasser days where schools media and moves all were under total government control and they bombarded us with Lies Lies and Lies about how wrong is Jews-Israel around the world and how right and oppressed are arabs-pal. I myself pitted the pal and hated Jews until we immigrated to Canada and when started going to school and work with Jews and started reading non-arab or non-arab tailored books and finally realized that pal or arabs are wrong and Jews are right by liberating their own historic Jewish lands and making modern day Israel. And now that I am not blinded with arab lies ,think back I remember clearly how civilized the IAF was at 1967 war, see they controlled the skies of Egypt since day one ,they bombed all the military targets but NEVER touched or harmed one civilian or civilian target. It is hard to see one country in this world that has such a high morals and respect to human life like the IDF ( Israels ),mind you us Egyptians never used civilians as human shield the way pal or hezballa does time and time again
This man is an optimist. His criticism of Islam and Arabs is restrained at best. He is an Arab moderate. Of course his brethren want him dead. May the rest of his kind see the light. The cost of ammunition is rising Peace Through Victory
I was not surprised to read this article .. and i was not surprised to read Mr.Allam's attitude as he is one of the consequences of camp-david, this ideology he has got reminds me only with Anwar alsadat ... the ideology of selling themselves and their countries for few dollars ... in the end .. i just hope that Mr.Allam is really believing in what he said .. because at least i would say it's his opinion ...
During WWII, there were even Jews working for the Third Reich. In every age, there are cheap people like this.
Many thanks for this inspiring story -- just wonderful. And now we have *two* moving stories of humanitarian Arab Muslims willing to speak the truth about Israel and it neighbors. All lovers of humankind should both applaud this brave man, and stand ready to defend him. Bless you, dear Brother.