An Israeli news correspondent has reported that a Muslim Brotherhood rally in Cairo held at the Al Azhar Mosque was a “venomous anti-Israel protest” that featured calls to “kill all the Jews.” According to a report in Ynet News by Yedioth Ahronoth correspondent Eldad Beck:
11.25.11, 20:29 / 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 Nation’s partition plan in 1947, which called for the establishment of a Jewish state. However, most worshippers who prayed at the mosque Friday quickly left it before the Muslim Brotherhood’s rally got underway. A group spokesman urged attendants to remain for the protest, asking them not to create a bad impression for the media by leaving. ‘Speakers at the event delivered impassioned, hateful speeches against Israel, slamming the “Zionist occupiers” and the “treacherous Jews.” Upon leaving the rally, attended were given small flags, with Egypt’s flag on one side and the Palestinian flag on the other, as well as maps of Jerusalem’s Old City detailing where “Zionists are aiming to change Jerusalem’s Muslim character.” Propaganda material ahead of Egypt’s parliamentary elections was also handed out at the site. Spiritual leader Dr. Ahmed al-Tayeb charged in his speech that to this day Jews everywhere in the world are seeking to prevent Islamic and Egyptian unity. “In order to build Egypt, we must be one. Politics is insufficient. Faith in Allah is the basis for everything,” he said. “The al-Aqsa Mosque is currently under an offensive by the Jews…we shall not allow the Zionists to Judaize al-Quds (Jerusalem.) We are telling Israel and Europe that we shall not allow even one stone to be moved there.” ‘We have different mentality’ Muslim Brotherhood spokesmen, as well as Palestinian guest speakers, made explicit calls for Jihad and for liberating the whole of Palestine. Time and again, a Koran quote vowing that “one day we shall kill all the Jews” was uttered at the site. Meanwhile, businessmen in the crowd were urged to invest funds in Jerusalem in order to prevent the acquisition of land and homes by Jews. Throughout the event, Muslim Brotherhood activists chanted: “Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv, judgment day has come.” Speaking to Ynet outside the mosque following the prayer, elementary school teacher Ala al-Din said that “all Egyptian Muslims are willing to embark on Jihad for the sake of Palestine.” “Why is the US losing in Afghanistan? Because the other side is willing and wants to die. We have a different mentality than that of the Americans and Jews,” he said.
Omitting any mention of anti-Semitism, an Egyptian media report provides further details on the background to the rally noting that it was co-sponsored by Al-Azhar and the Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS), known to be headed by Global Muslim Brotherhood leader Youssef Qaradawi:
November 25, 2011, 6:59 pm CAIRO: Hundreds gathered after Friday prayers at Al-Azhar Mosque to support the Palestinian cause and condemn the judaization of Palestine.The event, dubbed “Friday of Al-Aqsa Support,” was attended by some Azhar scholars and mainly members of the Muslim Brotherhood and other Islamist groups. According to Essam El-Erian, the event was organized by Al-Azhar, Islam’s highest institution of learning, along with the Union of Muslim Scholars. The Muslim Brotherhood was invited along with other groups, and some of its members attended, he said. Moukhtar Al-Mahdy, head of a group promoting Sharia, said Muslim unity is the only way to free Al-Aqsa Mosque and work towards a free Palestine.“If our enemy has his own myth of ruling all the land between the River Nile and the Al-Forat River, we have a promise by God to win this battle,” Al-Mahdy said. “Everyone should know that Al-Aqsa is a red line,” he added.Attendees chanted “Our beloved Aqsa, your sun will never set,” “Egyptians have said it, Al-Aqsa is a main demand,” and “Islam regains its pride or we die as martyrs.”Abdel Rahman Al-Mor, member of the Muslim Brotherhood’s advisory bureau, said the most important step to a free Palestine is to prepare the young generation for the upcoming battle.He called on Egyptian businessmen to start investing in the reconstruction of Palestine. Khalil Ismail, member of Hamas’ political bureau, said Israelis are aiming to decrease the number of Palestinians to only 20 percent of the whole population by forcing them out of the country and not allowing them to construct houses or participate economically.
Egyptian media had reported on the arrival of Global Muslim Brotherhood leader Youssef Qaradawi in Cairo last Wednesday and the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood website had also reported that Qaradawi was scheduled to take part in the Friday Al-Azhar events. Another report from Al-Masry Al-Youm confirms Qaradawi’s presence in Cairo, discussing a meeting he held with Al-Azhar leader al-Tayeb in Al-Tayeb’s office. The Egyptian Brotherhood report also referred to the formation of a “popular campaign girl to resist the Judaization of Jerusalem” that includes as its spokesman Dr. Solah Soltan, a member of the IUMS and a virulent anti-Semite who once accused Jews of using Christian blood for Matzoh (substitute for bread used during the Jewish holiday of Passover).
Qaradawi, also a virulent anti-Semite, is often referred to here as the most important leader of the global Muslim Brotherhood, an acknowledgement of his role as the de facto spiritual leader of the movement. In 2004, Qaradawi turned down the offer to lead the Egyptian Brotherhood after the death of the Supreme Guide. Based in Qatar, Sheikh Qaradawi has reportedly amassed substantial wealth through his role as Shari’ah adviser to many important Islamic banks and funds. He is also considered to be the “spiritual guide” for Hamas and his fatwas in support of suicide bombings against Israeli citizens were instrumental in the development of the phenomenon. A recent post has discussed a video compilation of Qaradawi’s extremist statements.
As discussed in a previous post, Dr. Ahmed al-Tayeb was appointed head of Al-Azhar in March 2010 replacing Mohammed Sayed Tantawi who died on a trip to Saudi Arabia. As noted in that post, that Dr. Al-Tayeb made positive comments at that time on the Muslim Brotherhood.
The campaign against what the Global Muslim Brotherhood called the “Judaization of Jerusalem” has long been a staple of Brotherhood rhetoric and activities, accompanied by frequent accusations that Israel is attempting to secretly destroy the Al-Aqsa Mosque. A previous post discussed a letter written by the President of the Federation of Islamic Organizations In Europe (FIOE) A calling on “all Imams, Spiritual Guiders and those in positions of responsibility, to allocate the first Friday in Ramadan to focus on the history and events related to Al-Aqsa and highlight the ongoing conspiracy to destroy it.” The letter furthers describes what it calls the “escalating violations and acts of judaization, and desecration of its sacred and holy locations, as well as the constant desecration of Al Masjid Al-Aqsa.” Another post discussed a 2008 conference “to save Jerusalem” held by the the Al-Quds (Jerusalem) International Institution (AQI), founded by global Muslim Brotherhood leaders Youssef Qaradawi and the late Faisal Mawlawi, At that time, Mawlawi told Islamic media that “Al-Quds is actually facing a real threat of judaization and obliteration of its Islamic identity.”