Vatican disappointed by negotiations with Israel, source says

Published: 2004-07-07

JERUSALEM (CNS) -- Vatican officials were disappointed with the outcome of recent negotiations with Israel on the implementation of parts of a 1993 treaty, a well-informed church source said. "When the delegation of the Holy See came to the table, the delegation of Israel claimed to have no mandate to negotiate on any of the outstanding matters. This is why (the talks) haven't advanced. ... It is a mystery," the source told Catholic News Service. Topics discussed at the July 5 meeting included the church's tax status and legal disputes over holy sites, the source said. Last August, Israel withdrew from the negotiations without explanation, said the source. In May, Israel indicated that it was prepared to resume talks. The December 1993 "Fundamental Agreement Between the Holy See and the State of Israel" established full diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Israel. It outlined principles of religious freedom and church-state relations, leaving the more difficult issues -- such as the church's tax status and property holdings -- to subsequent joint commissions. The church has charged that several of these issues have yet to be resolved.

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