Eretz Israel is our unforgettable historic homeland...The Jews who will it shall achieve their State...And whatever we attempt there for our own benefit will redound mightily and beneficially to the good of all mankind. (Theodor Herzl, DerJudenstaat, 1896)

We offer peace and amity to all the neighbouring states and their peoples, and invite them to cooperate with the independent Jewish nation for the common good of all. The State of Israel is ready to contribute its full share to the peaceful progress and development of the Middle East.
(From Proclamation of the State of Israel, 5 Iyar 5708; 14 May 1948)

With a liberal democratic political system operating under the rule of law, a flourishing market economy producing technological innovation to the benefit of the wider world, and a population as educated and cultured as anywhere in Europe or North America, Israel is a normal Western country with a right to be treated as such in the community of nations.... For the global jihad, Israel may be the first objective. But it will not be the last. (Friends of Israel Initiative)

Wednesday 2 February 2011

What Al Beeb’s Jeremy Bowen Doesn’t Tell You About the Muslim Brotherhood

The BBC’s unfit-for-purpose Middle East editor Jeremy Bowen – he of the perpetual world-weary (or is that just Israel-weary?) tone and scowl, and a constant anti-Israel spin on things – has demonstrated a ridiculous and quite scandalous degree of ignorance in his 31 January BBC News website post regarding the Muslim Brotherhood – they’re just fluffy strokable pussycats according to him. Writes Jezza:
“The country's only properly organised mass political movement outside the ruling party is the Muslim Brotherhood, and it would do very well in any free election.
Unlike the jihadis, it does not believe it is at war with the West. It is conservative, moderate [that word "moderate" was later removed] and non-violent. But it is highly critical of Western policy in the Middle East.”
What utter nonsense. What irresponsible journalism. How stupidly gullible.

To help redress the balance, here’s an article sent to me by Coptic journalist and activist Assad Elepty, of Sydney, entitled ‘Mubarak Arm wrestle continues “War of Attrition”: Muslim Brotherhood Lurks ready to strike’:

The war of attrition is continuing in Egypt, and Mubarak is losing the battle.

Mubarak is not only defiant; he is arrogant and appears oblivious to the repeated calls, “Mubarak we do NOT want you”. He is a hard head, clutching on with the bare skin of his teeth. His palace has been barricaded with barbed wire and guarded by the Military.

Even the military have told him to step down. Unlike the Australian Government, Obama hears the voice of the people and has sent an envoy to convince Mubarak “it is in the best interests of Egypt that you abandon your political agenda and announce you will not contest the upcoming presidential elections scheduled for September 2011.

Mubarak has read between the lines, sees he has lost the support of Obama, and did make the announcement. Just as significantly it means Gamal Mubarak’s political ambitions ended along with his father, he has no chance of ever becoming president. Mubarak went too far last November when he used his security force to crush all opposition. The people have had enough. Shamefully less than 20% of the population participated in the November 2010 election.

The protestors are clearly winning; however the statement from Mubarak did not quell them in any way. If anything it has reinforced their determination. Mubarak is delaying the inevitable; he must step down, “simply because a blind man can see the protests will not end for so long as he is at the helm. The people have spoken.

Just as critical, a leading member of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt told the Arabic-language Iranian news network Al-Alam that he, “would like to see the Egyptian people prepare for war against Israel”. Muhammad Ghannem reportedly told Al- Alam that “the Suez Canal should be closed immediately, and that the flow of gas from Egypt to Israel should cease”. He added that “the people should be prepared for wars against Israel,” saying the world should understand that “the Egyptian people are prepared for anything to get rid of this regime.” He added that Washington was forced to abandon plans to help Mubarak stay in power after “seeing millions head for the streets.”

His comments are dangerous and inciteful. It clearly indicates that the Muslim Brotherhood is looking beyond Mubarak and sees their influence as a fore gone conclusion. The next phase of the revolution is the most crucial; it will set the destiny of Egypt for decades if not centuries to come drilled out.

Islamisation of Egypt, in any form would is not an option. Islam and democracy are diametrically opposed and most certainly do not go hand in hand. The Muslim brotherhood is the only organized and well funded “(by Iran & Saudi Arabia)” opposition group in Egypt. Any hasty election will see the Muslim brotherhood stroll into power. While the Muslim Brotherhood claim to be passive and non violent, they are as sly as snakes and cunning as foxes. The Brotherhood once in power would then remove the veil and deception and show their true colors with horrific consequences for Egypt, especially the minority Coptic Christians.

It has been widely reported the constitution will be re-written, any such step MUST include removal of article 2.

Any reference to Islam remains in the constitution; it will mean no change for the minority Copts and continued persecution and subservience.

I had to laugh when I read today the Muslim brotherhood have dropped their 80 year old slogan “Islam Is the Solution”, replaced it with the new slogan “participation”.

It is funny because they are outlawed and banned in Egypt, they can not legally run or “participate” for elections as the “Muslim Brotherhood”. In the past they circumvent the law by running for elections under the guise of Independents and then vote as one block in parliament. They have no regard for any law and always devise a means to bypass laws.

For those unaware, the Muslim brotherhood was started by Hassan Banna a primary school teacher in 1928. He was a lover of Hitler, and even went to Germany to meet him and organized Muslim Arabs (SS) to exterminate the Jews. (http://www.faithfreedom.org/articles/op-ed/probing-the-history-of-the-muslim-nazi-alliance/)

1948 and 1949, the Muslim brotherhood sent volunteers to fight in the war in Palestine. The feud between the monarchy Egypt and the MB reached its climax when the MB organized the assassination of Prime Minister Mahmoud an-Nukrashi Pasha. This in turn prompted the assassination of Al-Banna. On February 12, 1949 in Cairo.

The MB have a sordid, ugly and vile history, this radical sect can never be under estimated. Muslim Brotherhood Ideology

Al-Banna developed the ideology and the methods of organization and recruitment that were to characterize most radical Islamist groups which may or may not have been inspired by the Brotherhood.

(http://www.faithfreedom.org/articles/islamic-jihad-articles/muslim-brother-hood-ideology-defining-an-islamic-state/)

Muslim Brotherhood Goals and Ideology

Islam must dominate and not be dominated.

Restoration of the lost caliphate - i'adat al Khalifa al Mafqudah - is the chief immediate political goal of the Islamist movement.

Islam is currently inferior to the West because it deserted its roots. It will triumph by returning to its pristine form.

Social revolution and anti-colonial struggle are an integral and major part of the mission of the Islamic revival.

Violent Jihad is a central tenet of Islam and martyrdom in the cause of Allah is highly valued. Violent Jihad is the greater Jihad, while inner struggle for moral purity is the lesser Jihad.

Islam must aim to take over the entire world and assert its superiority through violent Jihad; Western civilization is doomed by its decadence and Jewish influence.

Ideas such as democracy and human rights are products of Jewish influence and Western decadence.

Society must be ruled by God and not men.

The best sort of government was a dictatorship based on Sha'aria Muslim law.

The Jews are particularly vile enemies of Islam. Israel is to be opposed because it is a foreign western implant.

The Muslim brotherhood’s rhetoric, that they are pro-democracy is utter rubbish. They have no intention of changing nor have they changed one goal or objective since their inception. It would be an absolute disaster for Egypt as if this radical bigoted sect played any role in a new government. The Muslim Brotherhood is the furthest thing possible from democracy you can ever imagine. Any new government must have a representation of Copts proportionate to their population. They have been voiceless and unrepresented for centuries. Islamisation of Egypt has seen a progressive genocide of the Copts, that now only account for 10-15% of the population. They are the last surviving Christian group in the Middle East, Once the Bedrock of Christianity. The global community has a duty to protect the Copts and ensure Egypt becomes a secular democratic society.

And be sure to see http://www.faithfreedom.org/articles/islamic-jihad-articles/muslim-brother-hood-ideology-defining-an-islamic-state/

Also, see an absolute corker of an article in today's "Daily Telegraph" by David Horovitz, re the danger Israel now faces and how Israel compares so favorably with its Middle Eastern neighbours:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/middleeast/israel/8296776/Egypt-crisis-Israel-faces-danger-in-every-direction.html

18 comments:

  1. Rachid Ghannouchi Is Not a Moderate, by Gabriel Scheinmann
    http://www.hudson-ny.org/1838/rachid-ghannouchi-islamist

    The same can be said about the "moderate islamists" in Tunisia.
    Paula

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  2. Thanks, Paula.
    This is also worth a look:
    http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/142072

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  3. This morning on Radio 4 it was stated that the Muslim Brotherhood has no links with Al Qaeda by Frank Gardner, no less! (If memory serves.)

    King Abdullah of Jordan has sacked his cabinet and there are developments in the Yemen. I fear a ring of jihadists around Israel and across North Africa mad enough to start a war and not just a war against Israel.

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  4. Frank Gardner surprised me the other day when he appeared to downplay the Islamist persecution of the Copts ...

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  5. What is Bowen on ? The Mulim Brotherhhod were responsible for the biggest " Drive by " in history. Now they really want to rule the hood.

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  6. I reckon he's on an agenda of his own, Steve, though he doesn't seem particularly brainy, certainly not as clever as he seems to think he is - his "analyses", even when not biased, are run of the mill and he often states the obvious.

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  7. And BBC reporter Jon Donnison intrudes the Bowen take on the MB into this report – see it all http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-12338222:
    "We are concerned. We are watching this very anxiously," says Dan Gillerman, a former Israeli ambassador to the United Nations.
    "This is a very, very tough neighbourhood," he says.
    "We are already facing Hezbollah in Lebanon, Hamas in Gaza and the prospect of, God forbid, an autocratic, fundamentalist, Islamic organisation taking over in Egypt is obviously not something we can ignore."
    Mr Gillerman is talking about the Egyptian Islamist movement, the Muslim Brotherhood.
    Many analysts would disagree with his description, seeing the Brotherhood as a conservative, but more moderate, Islamic organisation.
    But Israel is talking up the threat.

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  8. http://www.irna.ir/ENNewsShow.aspx?NID=30217643

    Armed men attack Zionist regime embassy in Cairo

    Cairo, Feb 1, IRNA – Zionist regime's embassy in Cairo was attacked by armed men Tuesday morning.

    According to the IRNA correspondent here, a guard of the embassy building was killed during the attack.

    An eyewitness told IRNA that the killed man was an Egyptian officer who was guarding the building.

    The attackers withdrew from the embassy after clashes with the Egyptian forces who were on guard there.

    The Zionist regime had already announced that most of its diplomats and their family members had left Cairo following the public uprising in the country.

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  9. I haven't seen anything else about that, Nathan, certainly not from Jezza B.

    When pressed, Frank Gardner told Jon Sopel on BBC News 24 today that he thinks claims that the Muslim Brotherhood is posed to take over in Egypt is "propaganda".

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  10. Interesting blog. It would be great if you can provide more details about it. Thanks you

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  11. I'm sure Assad Elepty will have more to say later on, Sassy.
    And I'm also sure I'll be blogging about Jeremy Bowen again ...

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  12. http://justjournalism.com/media-analysis/the-muslim-brotherhood-on-israel-hezbollah-and-iran/

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  13. You don't sound very brainy yourself dear Daphne. just good at alarmist and fear based cyber bullying of a very thoughtful, experienced journalist. There are many voices out there - not just JB's - trying to make sense of the situation in Cairo and beyond. And that means looking for nuance and trying to understand MB and other difficult issues. Arab World = Bad / Israel = Good is a simplistic binary baloney that needs to change. I certainly don't see any depth to your analysis here. Hopefully there'll be a new generation of thinkers and policy makers in Israel and her neighbours who want peace and want Israel to be the beacon of light she could be. Light and liberty and peace to your neighbours is what you profess, but why not start on your blog.

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  14. Israel does want peace, Rachel, and while some of its policies have been arguably foolish and counterproductive, it has been met with a stone wall of rejectionism from the Arab bloc. Read some history of the region - but steer clear of Bowen's.
    Me cyberbullying Jezza? Hardly. Were I and others like me - and we are legion (just look at Boased BBC for starters) - to refuse to pay his salary by withholding the daylight robbery that is the BBC licence fee, now that would be bullying, and well-justified too!

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  15. Thank you for your reply. Debate about this is vital, just naming and trying to shame that I don't see the point of. I think Jeremy Bowen has some important things to say. And sometimes the facts speak for themselves and any analysis on top is hard to bear. When you believe so much in something, you have to justify rather than accept a more unpalatable truth.

    Nonetheless, a solution must be found. Israel is here and so very wonderful, but surely must find a way to balance protection with progress.


    Interesting use of "we are legion" ...((

    Bakesh shalom ve'Radfeihu

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  16. Rachel, apologies for this tardy response - that Jeremy Bowen's reportage is held in some derision is apparent from some of the comments on this thread alone:

    http://biased-bbc.blogspot.com/2011/02/muslim-brotherhood-largely-secular.html#comments

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  17. That's as may be, but I've never read such vindictive, xenophobic, offensive, unsubstantiated nonsense as on that site. Much of it - read recent critique of question time - is really just rude and again very personal. I'm not accusing you of stooping so low, but I couldn't stand to read such bigoted vitriol.

    So that a lot of people (drawn to that blog and sharing the same fossilized mind set) all think that JB's reportage is lacking means very little to me.

    I am unsure where the BBC is going, and it sometimes seems to be far from the founding Reithian values. But I, like many others, think that Jeremy Bowen's reporting has been consistently good for many years.

    “Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.” Psalm 34

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  18. Jeremy Bowen allows his own personal feelings and opinions to intrude on his reportage - he consistently contravenes the BBC Charter and Producers' Guidelines.
    The BBC sticks to fingers up to complainants.
    The BBC is wonderful in many areas - the BBC2 musical programmes for instance - but it's saturated with leftie propaganda otherwise. All its critics want is for it to be objective.
    Even the BBC Trust saw through Jezza in one episode, and I believe the death of his Arab driver in an unfortunate incident has largely contributed to Jezza's stance. Probably a good-natured guy, but he should not be letting personal emotions rule his commentary.
    I honestly don't believe he is up to the job of analysis - for which he is handsomely paid at the licence payers' expense.

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