JERUSALEM — A leading Jewish organization is calling on the White House to cut contacts with Egypt's most powerful political movement, the Muslim Brotherhood, over anti-Semitic remarks attributed to its spiritual guide.
Mohammed Badie said that Jews were spreading "corruption," had slaughtered Muslims and profaned holy sites, according to comments published on the group's website and emailed to reporters. He further called on Muslims to fight Israel, saying Zionists only understood force.
Egypt's President Mohammed Morsi, who was elected this summer in the aftermath of the country's 2011 popular uprising, hails from the Brotherhood.
In a statement Friday, the Simon Wiesenthal center said the U.S. could not pretend to conduct "business as usual" when the group made such statements.
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