Muslim Brotherhood Leader: Dissolve the Israel Peace Treaty

Eli Lake reports on an unhelpful statement:

A political leader of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood Thursday called on any government that replaces Hosni Mubarak's regime to withdraw from the 32-year-old peace treaty with Israel.

"After President Mubarak steps down and a provisional government is formed, there is a need to dissolve the peace treaty with Israel," Rashad al-Bayoumi, a deputy leader of the outlawed movement, said on Japan's NHTV.

The interview contrasted with earlier signals from the group. On Feb. 1, Mahmoud Ezzat, a spokesman for the brothers, told CBS News that his organization "will respect the peace treaty with Israel as long as Israel shows real progress on improving the lot of the Palestinians."

For what it's worth, al-Bayoumi's statement sounds to me like more of an empty campaign promise, rather than something a future Egyptian government would actually try to do. Of course, I could be naive on this point.