PA minister of Religious Affairs tells Jews and Palestinians conflicting messages
In an address to a Jewish audience, PA Minister of Religious Affairs Mahmoud Al-Habbash claimed that "the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is clearly political and not religious." This statement is in contrast to Al-Habbash's speeches to Palestinian audiences, in which he says, "We will resist through Ribat (religious conflict/war to defend Islamic land)...Ribat upon this land is an honor." [PA TV, Aug. 17, 2012]
Headline: “Al-Madani met with a delegation of ultra-Orthodox Jews.”
“Fatah Central Committee member and head of the Committee for Contact with Israeli Society [Muhammad Al-Madani] met yesterday [Feb. 4, 2014] with a group representing Western Haredi (i.e., European ultra -Orthodox) Jews…
The meeting centered on the [Israeli-Palestinian] negotiations and the importance of establishing peace, ending the occupation and founding an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, alongside Israel… Al-Madani emphasized that the purpose of contact and dialogue with all sectors of Israeli society is to build trust, convey the Palestinian message faithfully and bolster shared conceptions of peace. He noted the importance of refuting the claims of the Israeli right wing, which incite against peace and against the Palestinian leadership.
[PA] Minister of Religious Affairs Mahmoud Al-Habbash emphasized that the nature of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is clearly political and not religious. He warned against the attempts of the Israeli right wing to transform [it] into a religious conflict. He [Al-Habbash] added that ending the occupation and establishing the Palestinian state alongside Israel [will constitute] the basis for peace in the region, and will strengthen the secure and stable coexistence of the adherents of the three monotheistic religions in the region.”
From WAFA, official PA news agency
PA Minister of Religious Affairs encourages Ribat in Friday sermon:
Friday sermon delivered by Minister of Religious Affairs, Mahmoud Al-Habbash. In audience: PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas; Secretary General of the Presidential Office, Al-Tayeb Abd Al-Rahim; Jibril Rajoub.
Al-Habbash: "This [Al-Aqsa] mosque will remain a mosque. We will not abandon this soil; we will not abandon this land; we will not abandon this mosque. We will remain in it, we will live in it and we will die in it. We will resist through our presence upon our land. We will resist through Ribat (religious conflict/war to defend Islamic land) and resolve; we will resist by building, and we will resist by every means... Ribat upon this land is an honor… Yesterday, this occupation perpetrated a crime. It was carried out by one of the members of the terror movements, who are referred to as the so-called 'settlers'. These settlers are all – all of them – terrorists; terrorists in the full sense of the word. Every settler who lives upon Palestinian land, who steals Palestinian land, is a terrorist."
Headline: “Al-Madani met with a delegation of ultra-Orthodox Jews.”
“Fatah Central Committee member and head of the Committee for Contact with Israeli Society [Muhammad Al-Madani] met yesterday [Feb. 4, 2014] with a group representing Western Haredi (i.e., European ultra -Orthodox) Jews…
The meeting centered on the [Israeli-Palestinian] negotiations and the importance of establishing peace, ending the occupation and founding an independent Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, alongside Israel… Al-Madani emphasized that the purpose of contact and dialogue with all sectors of Israeli society is to build trust, convey the Palestinian message faithfully and bolster shared conceptions of peace. He noted the importance of refuting the claims of the Israeli right wing, which incite against peace and against the Palestinian leadership.
[PA] Minister of Religious Affairs Mahmoud Al-Habbash emphasized that the nature of the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is clearly political and not religious. He warned against the attempts of the Israeli right wing to transform [it] into a religious conflict. He [Al-Habbash] added that ending the occupation and establishing the Palestinian state alongside Israel [will constitute] the basis for peace in the region, and will strengthen the secure and stable coexistence of the adherents of the three monotheistic religions in the region.”
From WAFA, official PA news agency
PA Minister of Religious Affairs encourages Ribat in Friday sermon:
Friday sermon delivered by Minister of Religious Affairs, Mahmoud Al-Habbash. In audience: PA Chairman Mahmoud Abbas; Secretary General of the Presidential Office, Al-Tayeb Abd Al-Rahim; Jibril Rajoub.
Al-Habbash: "This [Al-Aqsa] mosque will remain a mosque. We will not abandon this soil; we will not abandon this land; we will not abandon this mosque. We will remain in it, we will live in it and we will die in it. We will resist through our presence upon our land. We will resist through Ribat (religious conflict/war to defend Islamic land) and resolve; we will resist by building, and we will resist by every means... Ribat upon this land is an honor… Yesterday, this occupation perpetrated a crime. It was carried out by one of the members of the terror movements, who are referred to as the so-called 'settlers'. These settlers are all – all of them – terrorists; terrorists in the full sense of the word. Every settler who lives upon Palestinian land, who steals Palestinian land, is a terrorist."
[Official Palestinian Authority TV, Aug. 17, 2012]