Catholic World News News Feature

Holy See, Israel delegations discuss agreement on Church status (AsiaNews) April 01, 2005

The delegations of the Holy See and of the State of Israel met once more on Thursday at the seat of Israel's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and continued their negotiations aimed at implementing the 1993 Fundamental Agreement, through a "comprehensive agreement" on confirming the Church's tax exemptions, safeguarding Church property and securing the State's participation in funding the social and educational work of the Church on behalf of residents of Israel.

The meeting came shortly after the sixth anniversary of the start of this round of negotiations on March 11, 1999. Like every negotiation between the parties since July 29, 1992, it took place within the framework of the Bilateral Permanent Working Commission between the Holy See and the State of Israel, which was established and announced on that date.

The meeting took place without any public announcement, and no official communique was published upon its conclusion. AsiaNews has learned though that it lasted the full working day, unlike the previous meeting-- on February 16-- which dissolved after only two and a half hours. According to veteran commission watchers reached by AsiaNews the length of the meeting, that it lasted the whole day, means that the delegations were engaged in serious work and were doing so in a purposeful manner. Other than that however, AsiaNews has not been able to gather any concrete information about the precise contents of the talks, or about whether-- and what-- concrete progress may have been achieved. A source close to the delegation of the Holy See has explained to AsiaNews that the meeting was conceived as a part of a three day series, with the next appointments being scheduled for April 20-21, and that the delegations are likely to evaluate the series as a whole, while further meetings are also now certain to be planned for. The source also disclosed that the meeting took place in a "very cordial atmosphere," with both parties sharing freely their concerns and their expectations.

[For the complete story, go to the AsiaNews web site.]