Haniyeh described Hamas as the Palestinian branch of the Brotherhood. Referring to their alliance Haniyeh said, “Our presence with the Brotherhood threatens the Israeli entity.” It certainly does since Hamas will enjoy the Brotherhood’s full support in its anti-Israel activities including the use of violence and, probably, in the event of any future war with Israel.
Since the Brotherhood will be the main party in parliament that also expresses Egyptian policy, however circumscribed it might be by the army and by a non-Brotherhood president. Of course, there might be a Brotherhood president, too.
The Egyptian Brotherhood now leads an umbrella organization that includes Hamas; the Syrian and Jordanian Brotherhoods in opposition; the ruling party in Tunisia; the potential ruling party in Libya; and branches that dominate many Muslim communities in Europe and North America.
That’s an impressive situation for a group that we have been told is weak. We are now seeing how we have also been wrongly told that it is moderate.
Two other points.
1. Jon Alterman, director of Middle East studies at the CSIS think tank in Washington has a New York Times op-ed which is the first sign of the foreign policy establishment waking up. He writes:
“American interests, however, call for a different outcome, one that finds a balance — however uneasy — between the military authorities and Egypt’s new politicians. We do not want any one side to vanquish or silence the other.:
In other words, forget about the liberals and bashing the army, the military has to balance the Islamists or else it will be a disaster.
2. The deputy leader of the Brotherhood, Rashad Bayoumi, said the Brotherhood will never recognize Israel: “This is not an option at all, whatever the circumstances, we do not recognize Israel at all. Israel is an occupying criminal enemy.” Have no doubt that his problem is that Israel is “occupying” the territory of Israel itself. Can one have peace with a “criminal enemy”?
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PJMedia