Vatican-Israeli commission reports 'significant progress'

Published: 2008-05-28

VATICAN CITY (CNS) -- A bilateral Vatican-Israeli commission reported there was "significant progress" made in work on financial and legal questions for church institutions in Israel. A plenary meeting was held at the Vatican May 28 between Vatican and Israeli delegations "for the purpose of advancing the negotiations pursuant to" a fundamental agreement drawn up by the two parties in 1993, said a statement released by the Vatican. The statement said the proceedings of the bilateral permanent working commission "took place in a climate of great cordiality and good will." The meeting "accomplished significant progress toward the shared goal, both substantively and in terms of putting in place procedures to improve (the) desired effectiveness of the ongoing negotiations," the statement said. It said the next plenary meeting would take place in Israel in December.

Copyright (c) 2008 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .