Palestinians complain Vatican prepared to recognize Israeli rule on West Bank
June 11, 2012
Palestinian news outlets are reporting that a proposed juridical-economic agreement between the Vatican and Israel would recognize Israel’s authority over occupied Palestinian territories on the West Bank. The reports have prompted angry complaints from Palestinian political leaders.
Neither the Vatican nor the Israeli government has commented directly on the reports. No draft of a proposed accord has been made public. The text of the proposed agreement is still under discussion, and negotiators have described their conversations only in the broadest terms.
Diplomatic representatives of Israel and the Holy See are meeting in Rome this week to discuss the latest draft version of the long-awaited diplomatic accord. Negotiations to complete the agreement—which was promised in the “fundamental agreement” that paved the way for Vatican recognition of Israel in 1993—have moved forward at a glacial pace for nearly 20 years.
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Further information:
- Parties say Israel-Vatican accord accepts occupation (Ma’an)
- More progress toward Vatican-Israel accord (CWN, 1/27)
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