The victory today by Mohammed Morsi represents a seismic shift in the Middle East. Now a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, the Islamic organization that has spawned most of the terror groups in the world -- including Hamas -- is the leader of the largest and most influential Arab nation in the Middle East.
While Morsi said he would govern with "moderate Islamic references," it's important to remember the creed of the Muslim Brotherhood: "Allah is our objective; the Koran is our constitution, the Prophet is our leader; Jihad is our way; and death for the sake of Allah is the highest of our aspirations."
During Morsi's campaign, he also attended a rally at which Sheik Safawat Higzazi rallied the crowd in a chant to liberate Gaza and make Jerusalem the capital of Egypt. Here's an excerpt from a MEMRI translation:
"Brandish your weapons... Say your prayers... And pray to the Lord. From the eyes of all Jews... Come on, you lovers of martyrdom... Banish the sleep from the eyes of all Jews. Come on, you lovers of martyrdom, you are all Hamas. Indeed, all the lovers of martyrdom are Hamas. I say from this podium, from al-Mahalla, from the heart of the Delta, the heart of Egypt, so that the whole world may hear. We say it loud and clear: Yes, Jerusalem is our goal. We shall pray in Jerusalem, or else we shall die as martyrs on its threshold.”
Click here to watch the video.
A number of huge questions remain following Mursi's victory:
• What will the consequences be for Israel? Is the more than 30 year peace treaty in jeopardy?
• Will the Muslim Brotherhood confront the military, the current de facto power in Egypt?
• What will be the fate of the millions of Coptic and evangelical Christians in Egypt?
• Will women's and minorities rights be tolerated?
These questions remain and for now the scenes of jubilation from the Muslim Brotherhood crowd in Tahrir Square have gone around the world. But many, many Egyptians are deeply troubled. Here's how one Egyptian now living in the West expressed his feelings:
“Muhammad Mursi of Muslin Brotherhood won the election in Egypt. Today the true democracy dies in Egypt, may the Lord have mercy over the minority in Egypt, today human rights dies in the Middle East, I lost my country twice, the day that I left and today.”