Zenit.org
The working session of the Holy See-Israel commission to negotiate the terms of the 1993 Fundamental Agreement took place last week “in a cordial atmosphere.”
A joint communiqué issued after Thursday’s session, issued by the Bilateral Working Commission Between the Holy See and the State of Israel, noted that the meeting “produced progress toward the desired agreement.”
The statement revealed no details of the agreements as the meetings operate under the principle of “nothing is agreed upon until everything is agreed upon.”
The Fundamental Agreement established diplomatic relationships between the Holy See and Israel. Since then, the two sides have been negotiating the particulars of tax exemptions and property rights for the Church, in particular for the holy sites.
The plenary session of the commission is set for Dec. 9 at the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
