Israel’s outgoing ambassador to the Holy See, Mordechay Lewy, has said his government and the Holy See are “very close” to signing an agreement that has taken nearly 20 years to reach.
"There has been great progress on the fiscal part, we are very close to the definitive signing,” Lewy told reporters yesterday. "The next meeting [of the bilateral commission] is in December but that doesn’t mean the signing cannot be done even before then."
Last month we reported that the long-running talks aimed at reaching an accord on outstanding issues related to the 1993 Fundamental Agreement had reached their “final stage.”
Vatican Insider’s report is the latest to confirm that an agreement could be about to take place. If so, it would allow Church institutions in Israel, which care for the many holy sites and carry out extensive humanitarian work, to operate without fear of crippling tax penalties and other legal and economic restrictions.
"I am very confident about the possibility of closing the agreement soon,” Lewy said, “as I am not the only one to say it, but so, too, are Vatican sources."
He said “progress really took place only recently,” adding that remaining unresolved legal issues are “not substantial.” Lewy, popularly known as "motti", said he briefed Pope Benedict XVI on the developments when he paid him a farewell visit last week.
As part of the improved relations, Israel recently lifted restrictions on visas for diplomatic passports of the Holy See.
Pave the Way Foundation, a non-sectarian organisation that strives to bridge gaps between religions, intervened twice to help restart the talks, in 2003 and 2006, after they became deadlocked. Its Jewish founder, Gary Krupp, told me recently the two parties are the “closest they’ve been to reaching an agreement since 1994.”
He added: “The compromise is very good from what I understand, because ecclesiastical and Church facilities are not going to be taxed, but there are entities that are for-profit that should be taxed.”
Such optimism of an agreement has been voiced many times before, so it's perhaps best to keep celebrations on hold for now, but it does seem as though this time it's different.
Lewy, an historian and prolific author, is credited for some of the progress, as is Archbishop Antonio Franco, the outgoing papal nuncio to Israel.
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this is all old news. what was NEW and quite interesting was the call to reinstate the nazareth bishopate (exiled in the 13th century) and to award the head of the catholic church in israel the title of auxiliary bishop. these would be the least the holy see could do in light of the fact that so far israel is doing all the giving and none of the receiving. the fact that the vatican refuses should be examined in light of “possible adverse” palestinian christian reactions. it would show that in israel churches are not coopted by the state (as opposed to in the palestinian authority - vis-a-vis the church of the nativity’s UNESCO status) and that there is a growing number of (non-arab) israeli christians who are fully pleased with their legal and social status in israel.
Mr Oferdesade:
“...these would be the least the holy see could do in light of the fact that so far israel is doing all the giving.”
Could you please tell me what brand of mind-altering drugs you are taking so that I can go out and buy some, too?
All sarcasm aside, I strongly suggest that you take a careful second look at what is actually happening in the Holy Land, because what is really happening is precisely the opposite of your statement I quoted. The occupiers of the Holy Land have made life miserable not only for the historical inhabitants, both Christian and Muslim, but for all Church authorities, both Catholic and Orthodox.
Google the words of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem. His observations will provide enlightenment.
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