Catholic World News News Feature

Vatican, Israel to resume negotiations on diplomatic accord June 03, 2004

The Holy See and the government of Israel will resume negotiations on July 5, hoping to fulfill the terms of their "fundamental agreement" that the two parties signed 10 years ago, the AsiaNews site has reported.

Although the "fundamental agreement" allowed the establishment of formal diplomatic relations, the terms of that accord have never been completed. Israel has not enacted the legislation required by the agreement, nor carried through with follow-up agreements on the recognition of Church properties in the Holy Land. Last August, Israeli negotiators broke off talks with Vatican representatives, without offering any public explanation. Diplomatic tensions have been redoubled by the Israeli government's failure to renew visas for Catholic missionaries working in the Holy Land.

However, AsiaNews now reports that Oded Ben Hur, the Israeli ambassador to the Holy See, has confirmed widespread rumors that negotiations will soon resume. He told AsiaNews that Israel hopes for a successful conclusion of the negotiations before the end of this year.