Zionist entity
In 1977, after the mass anti-government protests, then-President Anwar Sadat met with Student Union representatives from around Egypt for a televised debate and it was there that Sabahi became well-known among Egyptians. He openly expressed his disapproval of Sadat's economic policies and the alleged corruption of his government. He criticized Sadat's Infitah or "Open-Door" policy, which he said only favored the capitalists and those who were already well-off. He also criticized Sadat's plans to make peace with Israel, while Palestinians remained without a home and devoid of representation. "If the terms we have to accept in order for this land to be returned include recognizing the Zionist entity," Sabahi argued, "this would be a mistake." Because of this confrontation, Sabahi was banned from working as a journalist in the state-controlled media.