Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood Calls for a ‘United Arab States’ with Jerusalem as its Capital

On the heels of the Arab Spring, this is apparently now becoming a trend in the Muslim world, whether Sunni or Shia. And I get the impression that, despite their differences, they all have one goal in mind …

Ezekiel 38:8-23, “… In future years you will invade a land that has recovered from war, whose people were gathered from many nations to the mountains of Israel … You and all your troops and the many nations with you will go up, advancing like a storm; you will be like a cloud covering the land… On that day thoughts will come into your mind and you will devise an evil scheme. You will say, ‘I will invade a land of unwalled villages; I will attack a peaceful and unsuspecting people …’ You will advance against my people Israel like a cloud that covers the land … I will bring you against my land, so that the nations may know me when I show myself holy through you before their eyes … my hot anger will be aroused, declares the Sovereign LORD. In my zeal and fiery wrath I declare that at that time there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel… And so I will show my greatness and my holiness, and I will make myself known in the sight of many nations. Then they will know that I am the LORD.”

By Raymond Ibrahim – “Time and time again, we see how Western concepts, when articulated through an Islamic framework, lead to results antithetical to the West. For instance, ‘democracy’ and ‘elections’—which in the West suggest ‘freedom,’ ‘human rights,’ ‘liberty,’ etc.—are today being used to bring Sharia law, the antithesis of Western law, to power.

In this recent video, the Muslim Brotherhood’s Dr. Safwat Hegazy, a popular preacher, talks about how he yearns to see Arab nations become ‘like the United States’—for them to unify into the ‘United Arab States.’ While that may sound like an admirable (or at least neutral) goal, bear in mind what he is alluding to: the resurrection of a caliphate—which by nature exists to expand, including through jihad.

Moreover, Hegazy made clear that his interest in seeing the ‘United Arab States’ has less to do with Arab solidarity (nationalism) and more to do with Islamic allegiance (religion). As he gushed about how wonderful it would be for Arab nations to unite into one bloc, the secular and skeptical host interviewing him reluctantly agreed, ‘so long as the capital is Cairo,’ that is, so long as Egypt’s integrity remains. To this, Hegazy replied: ‘No, I say the capital is Jerusalem, Allah willing.’

Thus, just as that sacrosanct word ‘democracy’ is being used to establish fascist rule in the Muslim world, so too is the notion of a ‘United Arab States’ fraught with problems—from the elimination of Israel to the establishment of an expansionist caliphate on its remains.” Source – Jihad Watch.

Flashback: Egypt: Muslim Brotherhood Holds Venomous Anti-Israel Rally, Vows to ‘One Day Kill All Jews’ – “Arab hate: A Muslim Brotherhood rally in Cairo’s most prominent mosque Friday turned into a venomous anti-Israel protest, with attendants vowing to ‘one day kill all Jews.’ Some 5,000 people joined the rally, called to promote the ‘battle against Jerusalem’s Judaization.’ The event coincided with the anniversary of the United Nations’ partition plan in 1947, which called for the establishment of a Jewish state… Speakers at the event delivered impassioned, hateful speeches against Israel, slamming the ‘Zionist occupiers’ and the ‘treacherous Jews.’” Read more.

Flashback: Muslim Brotherhood Elder: ‘Jerusalem Belongs to Us, and the Whole World Belongs to Us … the Caliphate Will Return’ – “We are the children of Islam, the children of prophecy, the children of ‘there is no god but Allah and Muhammad is the prophet of Allah.’ I say unto you Gouraud, we will return and we will kill anyone who has polluted the al-Aqsa Mosque. I say unto you that we will return, as the day of Qurayza from long ago. I say unto you that we will return, as the day of Khaybar from long ago. I say unto you that we will return. Jerusalem belongs to us. Al-Aqsa belongs to us. Jerusalem belongs to us, and the whole world belongs to us. Every land upon which Islam has set foot will return to us. The caliphate will return to us, on the platform of prophecy.” Read more.

Flashback: Ahmadinejad: Iran is Determined to Eradicate the ‘Infectious Tumor’ of Israel, ‘Will Never Withdraw’ From This Policy – “Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad said that Iran was determined to eradicate Israel, ISNA news agency reported Thursday. ‘Iran believes that whoever is for humanity should also be for eradicating the Zionist regime (Israel) as symbol of suppression and discrimination,’ Ahmadinejad said in an interview with a Lebanese television network, carried by ISNA.” Read more.

The Terrifying Truth Behind the So-Called Arab Spring

In this case, the truth will not be what sets anyone free.  Instead, the truth is becoming a stark reminder of the depths to which tyranny and suppression remain deeply embedded in the fabric of Islamic society. It is now, finally, becoming unmistakably clear to an increasing number of observers within the “mainstream” media that in the absence of a so-called secular autocrat wielding an iron fist ready to crush any and all hint of insurrection, its replacement in the aftermath of the Arab Spring is an iron fist of a different kind — a theocratic master that, although patient, is all too ready to exercise its own form of tyranny and suppression.  The only difference this time is that, with the camouflage of a “justice” and “freedom” backdrop, it doesn’t need to take it’s power by force.  It is willingly handed over by the sand of the sea …

By JOHN R BRADLEY – “Stripped above the waist — save for her bright blue bra — the protester lies in a street just off Cairo’s Tahrir Square, seconds before a soldier stamps on her naked torso.

She has been dragged around by her arms and beaten by frenzied soldiers wielding metal batons, but still they won’t let her escape to safety.

This brutal scene from Egypt has sent new shockwaves around the West in the past three days, as the military regime has become ever more brutal towards pro-democracy protesters. Ten people have been killed and more than 400 wounded.

For the ‘girl in the blue bra’, as she has been dubbed by outraged bloggers across the globe, it is a gross violation of human rights — as well as contradicting conventional wisdom about Arab respect for female dignity and modesty.

For the watching world, it encapsulates the reality that Egypt is rapidly sliding back into brutal tyranny. The overthrow of President Mubarak’s despotic regime in February is already a distant memory, and hopes for a new era of freedom following the Arab Spring have turned to dust…

There has been little condemnation from the Islamist political parties, led by the Muslim Brotherhood.

That is because the Islamists, no allies of the pro-democracy movement, are playing the long game. Ultimately, what they aim to construct is a Muslim state run according to strict, fundamentalist Sharia law. And they are well on their way to that goal.

In the first round of the recent Parliamentary elections last month, they emerged as the dominant force.

In the second round, currently underway, it looks as though the Muslim Brotherhood, and the even more extreme Salafi Muslim parties, will again win around 70  per cent of the vote — compared with just over 10 per cent for the parties set up by revolutionaries.

As they march along this road towards a Muslim theocracy, the Islamists are happy for the time being to let the military establishment remain in charge.” Read more.

Egypt’s Islamist Parties Claim Second Round Victories with 75% of Overall Vote

It is still surprising to me the extent of support that an even more extreme Islamist party, Salafi al-Nour, is receiving at the polls in Egypt.  Then again, maybe I shouldn’t be surprised. Hamas and Hezbollah did pretty much the same thing …

By Elad Benari – “Egypt’s two leading Islamist parties said on Sunday their parties have secured about three-quarters of votes cast in the second round of a parliamentary election, Reuters reported.

A source from the Muslim Brotherhood’s Freedom and Justice Party (FJP) told Reuters the party was on track to win about 40 percent of votes for party lists, based on results from most districts.

Meanwhile, a spokesman for the ultra-conservative Salafi al-Nour Party told the news agency its list received about 35 percent of votes.

The second round of the voting in Egypt was held last Thursday in Giza, Luxor, Aswan and Ismaila.

In last month’s first poll, the Muslim Brotherhood claimed victory, winning about 40 percent of the ballots.

The once-outlawed Islamists’ Freedom and Justice party had won 34 seats in runoff elections, while Al Nour garnered another five seats, according to the group’s website.

While an official breakdown of results for the list vote has yet to be announced, Reuters noted that both parties’ predictions after the first round were broadly accurate.” Read more.

Egypt: New Islamist Fatwa Forbids Women From Wearing High Heels Outside Home, Forbids Muslims from Voting for Christians – “The recent emergence of the hardline Salafi trend in Egypt after the January 25 revolution has given way to a series of controversial fatwas that mainly focused on women, Copts, culture and democracy. Preacher Mustafa al-Adawi issued a fatwa prohibiting Muslim women from wearing high heels because they are a source of seduction for men. ‘A woman can only wear high heels for her husband but she is not to do so outside her house,’ he said. Another cleric, Sheikh Mahmoud Amer, had issued a fatwa prohibiting Muslims from voting for Coptic candidates or their Muslim counterparts who do not pray on regular basis. ‘It is forbidden by Islam to vote for them and whoever does that will be committing a grave sin,’ he said.” Read more.

Syria: A Picture Worth a Thousand Words

Even when it only includes 15 …

Rachel Abrams: 5,000 Syrians have been massacred by Bashar Assad since March, including 300 children. How are those sanctions workin’ out, Mr. Obama?

Saudi King Calls for the Formation of a Sunni Arab Super State Into One Unified Diplomatic and Military Confederation

Wouldn’t it be interesting to witness the formation of two divided unions within the kingdom of Islam — one Sunni and one Shia — each comprised of five nations each? Although Bahrain is currently included as part of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council, a large majority of its population is Shi’ite and resentment continues to simmer against the Sunni monarchy with no end in sight …

By Gavriel Queenann – “King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia formally called for the formation of a Gulf Union on a backdrop of regional unrest and growing tensions with rival Iran.

‘I ask today that we move from a phase of cooperation to a phase of union within a single entity,’ Abdullah said during his address at the opening session of the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council conference in Riyadh.

‘You must realise that our security and stability are threatened and we need to live up to our responsibilities,’ said King Abdullah.

‘Our summit opens in the shadow of challenges that require vigilance and a united stance,’ he added.

The GCC — comprised of Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman and the United Arab Emirates — was formed in 1981 as a security alliance to counter post-revolution Iran.

While Abdullah did not speak directly to the nature such a union might take, the six-member GCC has been openly discussing transforming their alliance into a unified diplomatic and military confederation for months now.

It has also been actively moving to expand its ranks. The GCC opened integration negotiations with Jordan earlier this month, and is engaged in exploratory talks with Morocco.

Last week GCC officials revealed they were making the inclusion of Egypt – the region’s most populous and militarily powerful Arab country – a priority.

The GCC nations have technically been at war with Israel since 1948, raising uncomfortable questions about the future of Israel’s treaties with Egypt and Jordan should those nations join.

The move also comes on the heels of the GCC flexing its muscles in the Arab League, where it moved to isolate key Iran ally Syria over the bloody crackdown of President Bashar al-Assad that has killed over 5,000 civilians.

In a clear reference to Syria, Abdullah urged his GCC allies to help their ‘Arab brothers so that the blood stops flowing and to guard against the risks of foreign intervention.’

Analysts say isolating Assad also weakens Iran’s proxy in Lebanon, the Shi’ite terror organization Hizbullah, which relies on Syria as a land-bridge to Tehran.” Read more.