Egypt's Islamists seek changes to Israel peace treaty
Al-Nour, Egypt's Salafi party, announces it will honor peace treaty so as not to violate international agreements but stresses it will work to amend 'clauses which exploit us'
Egypt's radical Islamist Al-Nour party, which came in second in recent parliamentary elections, announced its official stance on the peace treaty with Israel on Saturday. The Salafi party stressed it will not work to revoke the agreement but will try to amend "its exploitative clauses" using all legitimate means.
A statement issued by the party said it would not do anything which would cause damage to Egypt and its citizens. It said it views with great severity a situation where Egypt unilaterally violates the international agreement, despite the fact it was signed by a dictatorship. Al-Nour said it will honor the treaty but will seek to revise certain clauses.
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The statement noted that the party's stance does not contradict Egypt's obligations towards the Arab and Islamist nation. "The party strongly objects normalization and dialogue attempts and establishing relations with an entity which wants to wipe off our identity, occupies our lands, imposes a siege on our brothers and strongly supports our hangers."
Voting for Egypt's future (Photo: Reuters)
It was further noted that the statement was issued in the backdrop of recent speculation as to Al-Nour's stance towards Israel, the peace treaty and talks with Israeli media.
Earlier this week, the party's spokesman said that there was nothing that was preventing the party from engaging in dialogue with Israel, but party leaders clarified that his comments do not reflect the movement's position and that the matter is being examined.
Spokesman Yousri Hamad told a Kuwaiti newspaper that any talks with Israel would be held "under the supervision of the Foreign Ministry. We will not allow any secret negotiations."
Elections for Egypt's parliament are set to close in early 2012, but current rounds show the Salafi party reaching second place.
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