Catholic World News News Feature

Israel, Vatican to resume negotiations in February January 31, 2005

The oft-delayed negotiations between the Holy See and the government of Israel, designed to produce a final accord to implement the "fundamental agreement" of 1993, will resume on February 15.

Oded Ben Hur, the Israel ambassador to the Holy See, confirmed that the talks would resume in February. But he denied that the resumption of talks was due to diplomatic pressure from the United States.

Last week the US bishops had written to Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice, asking her to press Israel for a resumption of talks. The American bishops noted that Israeli officials have frequently interrupted the talks, despite a promise to conclude a pact that will guarantee the legal rights of Catholic institutions in the Holy Land.

The talks were resumed last year, after US diplomats openly urged Israel to return to the negotiating table. But the talks broke off in December.

The two key questions under discussion are the tax status of Church properties and the standing of Catholic institutions in Israeli courts. Ambassador Ben Hur claimed that a general agreement has already been reached on the tax issue.

The legal status of Church institutions in the Holy Land today is governed by laws that date back to 1920, before the foundation of the state of Israel, when Palestine was territory governed under a British mandate. That law stipulates that civil tribunals will not judge religious questions. Catholic officials observe that the law, as it stands, gives rise to problems when there are legal conflicts between religious bodies-- such as the dispute between Catholic and Muslim officials over plans to construct an enormous mosque adjacent to the Annunciation basilica in Nazareth, or disputes between Catholic and Orthodox officials over access to Christian shrines. Ambassador Ben Hur says that the Israeli government looks forward to finding a formula that would allow a satisfactory resolution of such problems. "There are problems with other religious confessions, as well as Catholics," he says. "The resolution of the accord with the Holy See could provide some precedents on which we can base relations with other faiths." The Israeli envoy insisted that his government has not spoken with the US Secretary of State about relations with the Holy See. However, Condoleeza Rice was scheduled to meet with representatives of Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon on January 31-- the date the resumption in negotiations was announced.