ABOUT THE CHURCH AND THE VATICAN

Vatican and Israel about
to finalize economic agreement?



ROME, Aug. 31 (JTA) -- The Vatican and Israel are working toward finalizing their bilateral relations with an economic agreement.

According to a statement over the weekend by the Israeli Embassy to the Holy See, the Bilateral Permanent Working Commission between the Holy See and the State of Israel met last week to continue talks on the issue.

The statement said the talks "took place in an atmosphere of cordiality, and the delegations believe that they have contributed to taking the talks forward towards the desired agreement."

The Vatican and Israel signed an agreement establishing diplomatic relations in 1993, but several financial issues, including tax exemptions and property rights for the Church, have remained unresolved since then, despite years of fitful negotiations.


The statement reads exactly like the boilerplate that has been issued periodically over the past 14 years since these bilateral talks have been going on. What makes JTA think this is any different? There was the same optimism earlier this year at the time of the Papal pilgrimage to the Holy Land, but nothing appeared to move forward. Does JTA, being a Jewish agency, have inside information perhaps that leads them to be optimistic?