Backgrounder: Egyptian Islamic Jihad
(aka: Al-Jihad, Egyptian al-Jihad; New Jihad; Jihad Group, Al-Qaeda)
Council on Foreign Relations
Author: Holly Fletcher
May 29, 2008
Introduction
Egyptian Islamic Jihad (EIJ), a militant Islamist group which emerged in the 1970s, changed its focus in 2001. Originally bent on installing a religious government in Egypt, the group joined forces with Osama bin Laden's al-Qaeda network that year and broadened its aims. Largely absorbed into al-Qaeda, EIJ opposes Western influence in the Muslim world, including Arab governments aligned with Washington, rails against secularism generally, and regularly denounces Israel, the United States, and governments supporting either. According to the 2007 State Department Country Reports on Terrorism, EIJ has been active worldwide "for several years under the auspices" of al-Qaeda. EIJ is thought to be involved with most of the terrorist attacks on the United States in the last two decades, and its operatives played a key role in both attacks on the World Trade Center.
What is Egyptian Islamic Jihad?
Historically, EIJ advocated for the overthrow of the secular Egyptian government. Since 1993, however, it has not carried out an attack within Egypt's borders, the State Department reports. Formerly known as the Society of Struggle, EIJ is a violent 1970s offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood that conducted a number of attacks on high-level Egyptian officials, including the 1981 assassination of Egyptian President Anwar Sadat. EIJ also has targeted Israeli and U.S. facilities in Egypt and in the wider region. Like Jamaat al-Islamiyya—another 1970s militant outgrowth of the Muslim Brotherhood—members from EIJ fought alongside the Afghan mujahadeen in the 1980s war opposing Soviet occupation, as well as in Yemen's long-running civil war.
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Copyright 2008 by the Council on Foreign Relations. This material is republished on GlobalSecurity.org with specific permission from the cfr.org. Reprint and republication queries for this article should be directed to cfr.org.
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