In a surprising move, the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) has extended an official greeting to Israelis for the upcoming Passover holiday, The Jerusalem Post reported. In it, the group officially representing the Palestinian people extends its best wishes for liberty for both parties.

Mohammad al-Madani, member of Fatah’s Central Committee and head of the Palestinian Committee for Interaction with Israeli Society, circulated the friendly message on news sites  Sunday. In it, he tells Israelis, “We extend our hearty greetings to you for the holiday of freedom.”

Passover, which begins Friday at sundown, marks the Israelites’ exodus from Egyptian slavery and the beginning of their journey towards the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai.

“May the Palestinian people also win freedom, and we would establish our state next to the State of Israel and peace would prevail in our region,” Madani continues, concluding with an Amen and “Happy holiday”.

While Madani’s initiative seems like a positive gesture, it has been met with sharp criticism at home, as Palestinians see it as further proof he wishes to increase collaboration with Israel. Nor is this the first time Madani’s interactions with Israelis have met with backlash from his own people: in March he headed an official delegation which paid a condolence visit to the home of senior IDF general Munir Amar, who was killed in a plane crash.

The intent of The Palestinian Committee for Interaction with Israeli Society is to encourage Israelis to promote a two-state solution within their own communities, pressuring the government to make concessions to the Palestinians.