Leaked Message From Son of Morsi’s Aide Deepens 'Brotherhood Crises' Abroad

Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted President Mohammed Morsi stand trial in Alexandria, Egypt, March 29, 2014. (Reuters Photo)
Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted President Mohammed Morsi stand trial in Alexandria, Egypt, March 29, 2014. (Reuters Photo)
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Leaked Message From Son of Morsi’s Aide Deepens 'Brotherhood Crises' Abroad

Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted President Mohammed Morsi stand trial in Alexandria, Egypt, March 29, 2014. (Reuters Photo)
Supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood and ousted President Mohammed Morsi stand trial in Alexandria, Egypt, March 29, 2014. (Reuters Photo)

A leaked message from the son of Essam El-Haddad, aide to former Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi, on the Brotherhood’s political future, deepened the crises of the organization abroad.

According to the researcher in the affairs of fundamentalist movements in Egypt, Amr Abdel Moneim, “[the leaked message] reveals the distress of the organization, which is facing a major deadlock within its internal structure.”

He noted that the message will open disputes within the Istanbul Front led by Mahmoud Hussein, the former Secretary-General of the organization.

According to Al-Arabiya channel website, Abdullah Al-Haddad, son of Essam Al-Haddad, Mohamed Morsi’s assistant for foreign affairs, demanded the release of his father imprisoned in Egypt, in exchange for a pledge to quit politics and stop engaging in any related activities.

In an article published on a local Egyptian website, Abdullah said that Morsi’s death “ended a painful chapter in Egypt’s modern history.”

“His death became a clear statement that the new local and regional political landscape will not allow for a recurrence of any form of political activity like that which occurred between 2012 and 2013,” he stated.

Abdullah added that his father belonged to a past political era that has ended, in reference to the Brotherhood rule.

In remarks to Asharq Al-Awsat, Abdel Moneim said that Al-Haddad family used many of such methods during the last period to pressure Egypt to release Essam and his son Jihad.

Essam Al-Haddad was sentenced to 10 years in prison in the case of “espionage with foreign parties.” He was a member of the Brotherhood’s Guidance Office, and was appointed as Morsi’s assistant for foreign affairs during the Brotherhood’s rule in 2013. He obtained British citizenship. As for his son, Jihad, he was responsible for foreign relations and the chief advisor to the organization’s Al-Nahda project.

Regarding the “leaked letter”, Abdel Moneim said that it was “an attempt to gain international sympathy with Al-Haddad family.”

He added that the message will raise disputes within the Istanbul front and will open room for many questions about the situation of the organization there, especially that Essam’s brother, Medhat, is one of the leaders of the Brotherhood in Turkey.



For First Time in 25 Years, Lebanese Govt Drops ‘Resistance’ Clause from Ministerial Statement

President Joseph Aoun, parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam pose for a family photo with the new Lebanese government earlier this month. (Lebanese presidency/EPA)
President Joseph Aoun, parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam pose for a family photo with the new Lebanese government earlier this month. (Lebanese presidency/EPA)
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For First Time in 25 Years, Lebanese Govt Drops ‘Resistance’ Clause from Ministerial Statement

President Joseph Aoun, parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam pose for a family photo with the new Lebanese government earlier this month. (Lebanese presidency/EPA)
President Joseph Aoun, parliament Speaker Nabih Berri and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam pose for a family photo with the new Lebanese government earlier this month. (Lebanese presidency/EPA)

The new Lebanese government dropped on Monday the “resistance” - Hezbollah - clause from its ministerial statement in a departure from statements of successive cabinets since the year 2000.

Israel withdrew its forces from southern Lebanon in 2000, marking Hezbollah’s rise to prominence in Lebanese internal affairs. Since then, the “resistance” clause had dictated Lebanon’s decision of war and peace.

Salam’s government approved its statement, and it will be referred to parliament for approval.

Following a cabinet meeting, Information Minister Paul Morcos said President Joseph Aoun had praised the government for its rapid drafting of the statement – a process that had often taken several weeks.

The Taif Accord makes up 80 percent of the draft, while the president’s inaugural speech makes up the rest, he told reporters.

The minister stressed that the statement underscores the government’s commitment to liberating all Lebanese territories and demands that the state have monopoly over the possession of weapons.

It is also committed to United Nations Security Council resolution 1701 and steering Lebanon clear of regional conflicts.

Asharq Al-Awsat obtained a copy of the draft, which stressed “Lebanon’s right to defend itself in line with the UN Charter. The state is fully responsible for the security of the country and defending its borders.”

Previous ministerial statements had said that the state was “committed to the truce agreement and seeking to liberate occupied Lebanese territories through all legitimate means.” The statements had “underscored the Lebanese citizens’ right in resisting Israeli occupation and repelling Israeli attacks” - a reference to Hezbollah.

State reforms

The new government statement also declared that it was prioritizing state reforms and fortifying its sovereignty. The state, it continued, “had endured decades of shortcomings that had affected its efficacy, diminished its influence and undermined its authority... Today, we must meet the aspirations of the Lebanese people and restore the trust of the citizens.”

“We want a state that assumes its full responsibility for the security of the country and in defending its borders. Such a state repels aggressors, protects its citizens and fortifies its independence,” it went on to say.

The statement underlined the government’s commitment to its pledges, “most notably the implementation of resolution 1701 in full, as well as other resolutions that safeguard Lebanon’s territorial integrity, sovereignty and political independence within its internationally recognized borders and in line with the 1949 truce agreement between Lebanon and Israel.”

Commitment to national pact

The new government said it was “committed - in line with the national pact - in taking the necessary measures to liberate all Lebanese territories from Israeli occupation, imposing its sovereignty throughout the country and deploying the army in internationally recognized border areas.”

The government “underscored Lebanon’s right to self-defense against any attack in line with the UN Charter. It calls for implementing the president’s call about the state’s right to monopolize the possession of weapons.”

It called for holding discussions over a “comprehensive defense strategy that would be part of national security strategy on diplomatic, economic and military levels.”

“We aspire for a state that possesses the decision of war and peace and for its army to adopt a defensive combat creed,” it added.

Rejection of naturalization

The government tackled economic and social affairs, as well as the issue of Palestinian refugees. It expressed its rejection of their naturalization in Lebanon, saying it was committed to their right to return to their homeland and the establishment of their independent state.

Moreover, it stressed that the Lebanese state “has the right to impose its authority throughout Lebanese territories including Palestinian refugee camps.”

“We want a state that boasts effective public administrations and institutions, and that believes in justice for all without exception,” it continued. It underscored the importance of an independent judiciary according to the highest international standards.

The statement also addressed the issue of people’s deposits that have been frozen in banks. It said tackling the issue will be a priority and the depositors’ rights will be protected.

It also spoke of wanting to achieve economic growth and fixing the electricity sector.

Syria

The government will also work towards keeping Lebanon out of regional conflicts and preventing the country from “being used as a platform to attack friendly states.”

The government also vowed to launch a dialogue over border control and non-interference with new authorities in neighboring Syria, where the opposition ousted Hezbollah ally Bashar al-Assad on December 8.

Syria was the dominant power in Lebanon for three decades under the Assad family, with Damascus only withdrawing Syria’s troops in 2005 following mass protests triggered by the assassination of Lebanese ex-Prime Minister Rafik Hariri.

His murder was blamed on Assad and Hezbollah.