Attitudes of muslims and christians towards the Palestinian cause in the Doha conferences for interfaith dialogue

Abstract

This study aims to observe the Islamic-Christian attitudes toward the Palestinian cause in the 13 Doha conferences for Interfaith Dialogue (DICID) from 2003 to 2018. as one of the problems affecting the relations between the two parties. It was a subject of debate in the Islamic-Christian Interfaith dialogue conferences organized during the second half of the twentieth century due to the positions of some Christian and Catholic churches, particularly in their dealing with this issue. This study is based on Islamic-Christian opinions and speeches of Qatar as the host country during these conferences. Additionally, the personal interview with the President of the DICID, the organizer of these conferences. The study revealed that the Palestinian issue was not the main topic at these conferences. These conferences discussed the Palestinian issue and the repercussions of the Zionist occupation of Palestine, and its effect on the relations between Eastern and Western countries. Also, peace and coexistence in the region and the world in general. It was apparent the disagreement between the Islamic and Christian parties. The study used the descriptive-analytical method to monitor the attitudes of the two parties during conferences and the historical method to track the presence of the issue in the dialogue process during the second half of the 20th century. The comparative approach has also been used to show the extent of progress in the two parties' attitudes on this issue.