PA Minister's different message to foreign audience: Conflict is not religious
"Minister of Religious Affairs, Mahmoud Al-Habbash, met yesterday at his office with the Norwegian Minister of Church Affairs…
Habbash noted that the Palestinians believe in religious co-existence, love, and tolerance between people, to bring about peace and justice. He said that the disagreement between Palestinians and Israelis is not a religious one, but rather a disagreement whose reason is the [Israeli] occupation and settlement on the Palestinian territories. He also said that security and stability would not be attained in the Middle East unless the occupation was removed, settlement stopped, and an independent Palestinian state established."
Habbash noted that the Palestinians believe in religious co-existence, love, and tolerance between people, to bring about peace and justice. He said that the disagreement between Palestinians and Israelis is not a religious one, but rather a disagreement whose reason is the [Israeli] occupation and settlement on the Palestinian territories. He also said that security and stability would not be attained in the Middle East unless the occupation was removed, settlement stopped, and an independent Palestinian state established."