The Vatican is Still At It!

Israel recognizes the Vatican and other churches as owners of a shocking amount of prime real estate in Jerusalem. But this isn't enough for the Vatican. They've been trying to get Mount Zion, too. Unfortunately, Olmert has been trying to make a deal.

Negotiations on the Fundamental Agreement between Israel and the Holy See continue


13 Dec 2007
A Plenary meeting was held at the Ministry in Jerusalem to advance negotiations on economic arrangements between the State of Israel and the Holy See

Joint Communiqué

The Bilateral Permanent Working Commission between the State of Israel and the Holy See has held a Plenary meeting at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the State of Israel today, Thursday, 13 December 2007, for the purpose of advancing the negotiations pursuant to Article 10 §2 of the Fundamental Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Israel (30 Dec.1993).

The Delegation of the State of Israel was led by Mr. Aaron Abramovich, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and was composed, in addition, of the following Members:

Mr. Shmuel Ben-Shmuel, Head of World Jewish Affairs & Interreligious Affairs Department, MFA
Mr. Oded Ben-Hur, Ambassador of the State of Israel to the Holy See
Mr. Ehud Keinan, Legal Adviser, MFA
Mr. Oded Brook, Official of the Ministry of Finance
Mr. Moshe Golan, the State Attorney's Office
Mr. Bahij Mansour, Director of Religious Affairs Department, MFA
Mr. Ronen Gil-Or, Adv., Director of General Law Department, MFA
Mr. Eliav Benjamin, Director General's Bureau, MFA
Ms. Yael Weiner, Ministry of Justice
Ms. Leah Antebe, Ministry of the Interior
The Delegation of the Holy See was led by Monsignor Pietro Parolin, Undersecretary for Relations with States at the Secretariat of State, and was composed, in addition, of the following Members:

HE Archbishop Antonio Maria Vegliò, Secretary of the Congregation for Oriental Churches
HE Archbishop Antonio Franco, Apostolic Nuncio in Israel
HE Bishop Giacinto Boulos Marcuzzo, Latin Auxiliary Bishop
Msgr. Franco Coppola, Official of the Secretariat of State
Msgr. Anani Nicodème Barrigah-Benissan, Counselor of the Apostolic Nunciature
Msgr. Paolo Borgia, First Secretary of the Apostolic Nunciature
Archimandrite Maher Aboud
Father Pierre Grech, Secretary General of the Assembly of the Catholic Ordinaries
Father Dobromir Jasztal, OFM
Father David-Maria A. Jaeger, OFM, Legal Adviser
Mr. Henry Amoroso, Second Legal Adviser
Father Giovanni Caputa, sdb, Secretary
The delegations met in an atmosphere of cordiality, mutual understanding and good will, received with satisfaction the progress reported from the working level, and gave guidelines for the continuation of its work. Among other things, it was agreed to resume the activity of the Working Group on Individual Properties.

The two delegations expressed their determination to accelerate their work in order to achieve further advances in the coming months and to conclude the Agreement as soon as possible.

It was agreed to hold the next Plenary meeting in May 2008, at the Vatican.