MEMRI: MB Anti-Semitism Contradicts Moderation Claims

The Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood's website glorifies hate against Jews and the killing of Israelis, casting doubts on whether the group has toned downed its rhetoric, the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) reports. This is of particular concern now that the Brotherhood has become the dominant political force in Egypt, winning nearly half of all parliamentary seats.

"In addition to antisemitic content, articles on the site also include praise for jihad and martyrdom, and condemnation of negotiation as a means of regaining Islamic lands," MEMRI notes. The anti-Semitic posting on the website presents Jews as "covetous, exploitative, and a source of evil in human society."

The postings often equate historical anti-Semitic motifs and Islamic theology with current events. A sermon last June by General Guide Mohammad Badie warned of the Jews and their warmongering, blaming them for the division of Sudan into two countries, Palestinian infighting, and creating war among Muslims.

A May 23, 2011 article by Mahmoud Abd Al-Rahman discussed the "Zionist Jewish character," a problem faced by humanity from the days of the Pharaohs in Egypt to the modern era. "Analyzed psychologically, the Jew is a self-centered individual. He believes that God has not created his equal in the world, that he is the salt of the earth, and that God has given the [other] nations to him as slaves," Abd Al-Rahman wrote.

Starting in October 2010, university lecturer Ismail Ali Muhammad published a series of articles attacking the Jews by citing their religious texts. "It would not be an exaggeration to say that the [Jewish] character is still a source of evil and harm among all human societies," Muhammad wrote, as he advocated making preparations for war with "our enemy."

Other articles deny the Holocaust and praise Jihad as the only way to liberate Palestine. "The Hamas lions, from the ['Izz Al-Din] Al-Qassam [Brigades] and [Islamic] Jihad in Palestine... demonstrated their readiness for martyrdom for the sake of Allah and did not forgo [sacrificing] their lives [for the sake of] the homeland," wrote 'Abd Al-Rahman Al-Bar, a member of the General Guide's Office. "Victory for Allah is at hand. The enemies of Allah will receive no help from Him. The aggressor will never achieve his aim in Jerusalem, as long as we have one child in it."

Related Topics: IPT News, MEMRI, Mohammed Badie, Mahmoud Abd Al-Rahman, Ismail Ali Muhammad

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