Prominent Presidential Candidate: Egypt No Strategic Treasure for Israel Any More

Mohamed Mursi, a prominent Egyptian politician and Al-Ikhwan al-Muslimun (Muslim Brotherhood)’s nominee for the upcoming presidential election, underlined the necessity for his country’s rapprochement with Iran and other Muslim states, stressing that Egypt will no more be an Israeli ally.

Speaking to FNA, Mohamed Mursi pointed to severance of Tehran-Cairo ties under former Egyptian dictator Hosni Mubarak, and said, “I believe that relations should be resumed with all the world Muslim states, specially diplomatic and strategic ties with Iran.”

“There should be a full review of foreign relations and foreign policy in post-revolution Egypt,” Mursi stated.

As regards future ties with Israel, Mursi said that Egypt was “a strategic treasure” for Israel for 30 years, and stated, “…Egypt will review its ties with Israel and Israel should know that we will deal with the regime from a position of power and not from the stand of subordinate country and a country which is dependent on foreign countries.”

Mohamed Mursi has been the Chairman of the Freedom and Justice Party (FJP), a political party that was founded by the Muslim Brotherhood after the 2011 Egyptian revolution, since April 30, 2011. He is the FJP’s candidate for the 2012 presidential election.

Mursi served as a Member of Parliament from 2000 to 2005; he was elected as an independent candidate because the Brotherhood was technically barred from running candidates for office under President Hosni Mubarak.

There are 13 candidates running for president in Egypt. The first round of voting is set for May 23-24. If none of the candidates wins more than 50 per cent of votes, a run-off will be held in June.