Muslim Brotherhood criticized Bahrain Authorities

The Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt on Wednesday called on Bahraini authorities to listen to the demands of the people. It also criticized authorities for painting demands for political and constitutional reform as sectarian issues.
In a statement, the Brotherhood expressed its concerns about the escalation of events and the resulting casualties in Bahrain, saying this escalation "portends grave dangers."
The group called on "the people of Bahrain in all walks of life to get over their differences and to put aside feelings of tribalism, sectarianism and factionalism.”
The Brotherhood also called on the authorities to “adopt the principle of dialogue to resolve problems in a context of Islamic brotherhood, national unity and kinsmanship."
“Popular demands reflect the people’s will and officials must listen to and enforce what is in the public’s best interest," read the statement.
The group warned that turning the political unrest into sectarian issues "would ignite strife, threaten national unity, and provide a pretext for foreign interventions."

Egypt Protests: Jitters to Israel

Should the government of Hosni Mubarak be replaced by one not truly committed to freedom and peace, the consequences for Israel could be devastating. As Egypt struggles toward an internal balance that appeases all forces, including the Muslim Brotherhood, peace with Israel could be the price of an Egyptian compromise. And the risks are worse if the Brotherhood, an organization deeply hostile to Israel, America and the West, gets to call the shots.

Opinion of the Israeli Intellectual Media

Although many Israeli commentators are rehearsing these fears about Islamist politics, some have questioned these reactions. "There are no religious slogans in Tahrir square, but still we look upon the Muslim Brotherhood as though it is the greatest threat," says Zvi Bar'el, veteran middle eastern affairs analyst for Haaretz newspaper. "This is how we are educated by the government and media, to see Islam as a symbol of evil."
Bar'el adds that Israelis do not register the contradiction of claiming to support democracy, but only on condition that Islamic parties such as the Palestinian Hamas or Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood are not elected. "It has no meaning if you attach these terms," he says, adding that Israel's position is: "We support democracy, as long as you keep the dictatorial regimes in place."
Dr Bachar at the IPS says that Israeli policy is based on the assumption that there are only two alternatives in the Middle East: "a dictator that can be worked with – or chaos." He cautions that Israel "needs to change the record, insert a new disc".