In 1970, Egypt’s leader Nasser said he had ‘no interest’ in Palestinian cause, wouldn’t fight Israel — newly aired audio

A 1970 recording of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser indicating a lack of interest in the Palestinian cause is causing a stir in Egypt, Haaretz reports.

“We have no interest in the Palestinian issue. We will only talk about Sinai. When [the Israelis] leave Sinai, there will be an agreement,” he says to Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi in the audio clip.

Nasser threatened to destroy Israel in his speeches, created the Palestine Liberation Organization, led the Arab side in the 1967 Six Day War against Israel, and imprisoned hundreds of Jews after Israel’s victory.

But in the 1970 recording — aired on Abdel Nasser’s son’s YouTube channel — he showed no interest in fighting Israel: “If someone wants to struggle — let them struggle, and if someone wants to fight — let them fight. But today the Iraqis are telling us — all of Palestine from the river to the sea, or nothing.”

He seemed to think that defeating Israel in battle was a pipe dream.

“If we want to achieve our goals, we must be realistic,” he said to Gaddafi. “You are welcome to mobilize the forces, go to Baghdad and try to fight against Israel. We will stay away from this operation, leave us alone — we will choose a non-violent and defeatist solution. I can live with that.”

A recently released bombshell recording has sparked major controversy in Egypt and the Arab world.

In 1970, former Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser told Gaddafi:

"I am ready to normalize with Israel, and I have nothing to do with the Palestinian cause." pic.twitter.com/BvtGYJUn52

— Xumas (@xumas_iq) April 28, 2025