Sawiris Slams Israeli "Expansionism," Says US and Israel Bear Responsibility for a "War That Could Have Been Avoided"

According to France 24, Egyptian-American billionaire Naguib Sawiris, chairman of Orascom Investment Holding, described the global economic shock of the Iran war as "already happening" in an interview, and made clear that Israel and the United States bear responsibility for a "war that could have been avoided."

"It is not a question of fear, it is something that is happening."

Sawiris made the remarks on the third anniversary of the October 7 attack. He first condemned that attack as a "horrendous act of terrorism," saying it brought Palestinians nothing but destruction: "What did Palestine or the Palestinians get from October 7? Nothing, only destruction."

But Sawiris then turned his criticism toward the Israeli government itself. He warned of an "expansionist government" in Israel and described Israeli settlers as "crazy." This warning points to the political reality of the continued expansion of settlements by far-right forces in the West Bank.

When asked about the war involving Iran, Israel and the United States, Sawiris attributed responsibility for the war to all three parties. He called Iran "a destabilizing force," but at the same time accused Israel and the United States of provoking a "war that could have been avoided." His stance of holding Washington and Tel Aviv jointly accountable stands in direct collision with the long-standing official US and Israeli narrative of blaming Tehran for instability in the Middle East.

Despite the ongoing regional conflict, Sawiris has doubled his investments in the United Arab Emirates and sent a message to Tehran: "You do not scare us."

Sawiris also told France 24 that he recently met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa. He has no intention of pursuing the Syrian telecom assets that were confiscated from him during the Assad era. Asked about the experience of meeting a former jihadist as a Coptic Christian, Sawiris replied: "It shows that even extremists can sit down and talk."