Special to WorldTribune.com

Egyptian President Abdul Fatah Sisi called for “solidarity among all the peoples of the world,” in the fight against terrorism in his address on Sept. 28 to the 70th United Nations General Assembly in New York.

“Allow me to ask, how many Muslims must fall victim to this abominable extremism and odious terrorism to convince the world that all of us, Muslims and non-Muslims alike are fighting the same enemy, facing the same threat,” Sisi said.

“How much blood must be spilt before the international community realizes that the plague against which Egypt stands as the first line of defense …that there is no alternative to solidarity among all the peoples of the world to destroy it?”

Egypt is engaged in a brutal battle with Islamic State of Iraq and Levant’s (ISIL’s) affiliate in Sinai.

“Counterterrorism efforts so far have relied solely on defensive reaction, focusing on defending the present,” Sisi said.

Related: Egypt’s Sisi uses social media, puts heat on imams in campaign to reform Islam, May 31.

“It is our belief in Egypt that the Middle East and the world at large are confronted with a perilous danger and are in dire need of a model that presents new prospects for our youth, providing them with opportunities for a brighter future. They must be shown that, with diligent work, they can participate in crafting this future.

“There is no doubt that more than 1.5 billion Muslims refuse to subscribe to the views of this small minority that claims to speak on their behalf and seeks, through violence and extremism, to marginalize and silence all who oppose it,” he said.

Sisi added that “extremist powers” have imposed their presence in Libya through acts “defying Islam and the values of humanity” and said that he hoped terrorism would not divide Syria.

“We have all witnessed Libya’s descent along a downward spiral when the forces of extremism announced their presence through actions that contradict the principles of Islam and humanity,” he said.

“We have also observed how extremists exploited the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people to drag this brotherly nation into conflict, in order to achieve their intentions to exclude anyone but themselves.”

The Egyptian president warned against the division of Syria and, on the current refugee crisis, said that “Egypt is hosting an increasing number of refugees” and that disputes over open migration channels needed to be settled.

Sisi said he supports a Palestinian state along the 1967 borders with its capital in East Jerusalem.

“[This] will effectively eliminate one of the most important factors contributing to the region’s instability and one of the most dangerous pretexts used to justify extremism and terrorism,” he said.

Sisi also lauded the inauguration of the New Suez Canal project, saying it “was not only Egypt’s gift to the world but it represents the embodiment of hope.”

  Abdul Fatah Sisi, Egypt’s Sisi at UN: ‘Muslims and non-Muslims are fighting the same enemy’, ISIL, UN General Assembly, WorldTribune.com