Mohammed Mahdi Akef, the general guide of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, said Thursday that the group would never recognize Israel.  “There is nothing in our lexicon called ‘Israel,’” Akef said, “the only thing we recognize are Zionist gangs who conquered Arab land.”  Israeli Jews will only be allowed to live as part of a Muslim “Palestine,” Akef said.

Muslim Brotherhood official Dr. Azaam el-Arian said recently that if the Islamic group came to power in Egypt, it would recognize Israel and honor previous agreements between the two countries.  The Brotherhood would make changes to the Camp David agreement, he said, “but that does not mean we will declare war, but rather, that we will examine the accords to make them fit Egyptian interests.”