| Those buggers think big. |
Sources close to the group say a major Egyptian opposition figure has been serving the past year as spiritual leader of Hamas. "If I were Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak, I would look with great concern at the Hamas ascension to power in the territories. This has very dangerous implications for the Egyptian regime," Reuven Erlich, director of the Intelligence and Terrorism Information Center at Israel's Center for Special Studies, told WND.
| And bigger impliations for Ho's son. |
Palestinian and Israeli security officials told WorldNetDaily Mubarak is concerned the ascension of Hamas to power will embolden the Muslim Brotherhood, members of which ran in last year's general elections, to seek a similar power grab in Egypt. Analysts say Mubarak considers the Brotherhood a major challenge to his government. It scored very well in the latest Egyptian elections, winning an unprecedented 20 percent of the Parliament and trouncing all other opposition parties in spite of widespread reports of massive election tampering on the part of Mubarak's National Democratic Party. Mubarak also arrested more than 1,500 Brotherhood activists prior to the elections.
Although there are some ideological differences between the Brotherhood and Hamas – the Muslim Brotherhood says they are committed to a non-violent, reformist approach to Islamic takeover – experts say they are concerned by the current level of cooperation between the two organizations.
Erlich points to recently captured Hamas posters and material from the West Bank and Gaza that lists Brotherhood founder Hassan al-Banna as one of the most important figures to Hamas. "We found al-Banna's face all over Hamas material. He is an important part of Hamas culture and ideology and is held by them in the highest regard," said Erlich.
Palestinian security sources close to Hamas told WND Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood leader Mahdi Akif has been serving as a replacement Hamas spiritual leader ever since Israel | "Cobra leader, I have a new target for you, stand by for coordinates ..." |
| Yup, that's where it is allright, they haven't moved it. |
| A little close to the Israelis, doncha think? |
Over the past two months, Hamas has numerous times breached the border to allow weapons and terrorists to cross through, one time even ramming a dump truck through the border wall, leaving it open for much of two days. Earlier this month, two Egyptian border guards were killed by gunmen trying again to breach the wall.
| One wonders why this didn't cause the Egyptians to bring down the hammer. |
Still, Egypt has seemingly friendly dealings with Hamas leaders and regularly serves as a mediator in brokering deals involving the group. Overall Hamas leader Khaled Meshaal, who resides in Syria, is due to meet with Mubarak later this week to discuss the terror group's formation of a government. The two speak regularly by phone. Last year, Egyptian intelligence chief Omar Suleiman was instrumental in mediating a cease-fire agreement between Israel and the Palestinian factions, including Hamas. Suleiman and Meshaal held talks yesterday in Damascus.
Yaacov Amidror, former head of research for Israeli military intelligence downplayed the concerns of a Hamas takeover of Egypt. "Mubarak understands the threat of Hamas and he won't allow it to happen," Amidror told WND. "I don't believe Hamas will have the chutzpah to get together with the Brotherhood and attempt a takeover. Still, they are connected historically and ideologically, and at the end of the day, one of the most dangerous options in the Middle East is a network of Muslim Brotherhood cells that become one."
Multiple Brotherhood leaders in Egypt have said the past few days their group is strengthened by the Hamas ascension to power. "Political life in Egypt at present is controlled by two poles: the regime and its security and military agencies on one side and the Muslim Brotherhood on the other," said Brotherhood leader Abdel Rahman. "Maybe Hamas' win will help Muslim brothers to have a bigger influence on Egypt's foreign policy."
And Hamas chief in Gaza Mahmoud al-Zahar has previously made statements denouncing the "secular" Egyptian government and other regional non-Islamist regimes, including Jordan.
Yehudit Barsky, director of the division on Middle East and International Terrorism at the American Jewish Committee, told WND, "I do not believe it is logistically possible for Hamas to take over Egypt. It is conceivable the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood will try. Both groups are fashioned from the same mold and ultimately share the same goals of an Islamic takeover of the region and one day the world."