Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood to Electorate: 'No Israel'

January 10, 2012

Although Egypt's newly elected Islamic-majority parliament has yet to take office, it has already given an indication of how it may govern -- members of the Muslim Brotherhood say they will never recognize Israel's right to exist, CBN News reports. Rashad Bayoumi, the deputy chairman of the Brotherhood, reportedly said his organization would not recognize Israel "under any circumstances," calling it an "occupying criminal entity." He also said the Brotherhood would take steps to cancel the 1979 peace treaty between Egypt and Israel, although the U.S. State Department said he told them privately he wouldn't. Middle East analyst Walid Phares said, "The Muslim Brotherhood's aim [and] final goal is to establish an Islamic state like Iran, or like Sudan, or ultimately like the Taliban." Those elected to parliament are expected to be seated by the end of February.