The Vatican concluded a treaty Wednesday that formally recognizes Palestinian statehood, a step that immediately drew criticism from the Israeli government and a warning that it harms the Middle East peace process.
The treaty concludes work by the Bilateral Commission of the Holy See and the State of Palestine and “deals with essential aspects of the life and activity of the Catholic Church in Palestine,” according to a joint statement posted on the Vatican’s Web site.
“Both Parties agreed that the work of the Commission on the text of the Agreement has been concluded, and that the agreement will be submitted to the respective authorities for approval ahead of setting a date in the near future for the signing,” the statement said.
“Yes, it’s a recognition that the state exists,” said the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Associated Press reported.
Although the Vatican had previously referred unofficially to the “state of Palestine” and had welcomed the U.N. General Assembly’s 2012 decision to recognize such a state, the treaty marked the first time that the Vatican has negotiated a legal document with the Palestinians that constitutes official diplomatic recognition of a Palestinian state. Previously, the Vatican’s diplomatic recognition had been extended to the Palestine Liberation Organization.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry condemned the move, saying it was “disappointed” by it.
“This move does not promote the peace process and distances the Palestinian leadership from returning to direct and bilateral negotiations,” the ministry said in a text message, AP reported. “Israel will study the agreement and will consider its steps accordingly.”
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to visit Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday ahead of the canonization of two new saints from the Holy Land on Sunday. Abbas previously visited Francis at the Vatican in 2013.
The Vatican has strong religious interests in the Christian holy sites that dot Palestinian territory in the West Bank, which is under Israeli occupation.
A Palestinian spokesman played down the development Wednesday, saying that the Vatican effectively recognized the state of Palestine in 2012 after the U.N. General Assembly accepted it as a non-member observer state.
The spokesman said there has been an ambassador from the state of Palestine at the Holy See for several years and that for at least that long, the Palestinian government has regarded the Vatican as one of the states recognizing Palestine. “Nothing new” occurred in Wednesday’s exchange of documents, the spokesman said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world...-1bb7ce3b3fb7_story.html?tid=trending_strip_3
The treaty concludes work by the Bilateral Commission of the Holy See and the State of Palestine and “deals with essential aspects of the life and activity of the Catholic Church in Palestine,” according to a joint statement posted on the Vatican’s Web site.
“Both Parties agreed that the work of the Commission on the text of the Agreement has been concluded, and that the agreement will be submitted to the respective authorities for approval ahead of setting a date in the near future for the signing,” the statement said.
“Yes, it’s a recognition that the state exists,” said the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi, the Associated Press reported.
Although the Vatican had previously referred unofficially to the “state of Palestine” and had welcomed the U.N. General Assembly’s 2012 decision to recognize such a state, the treaty marked the first time that the Vatican has negotiated a legal document with the Palestinians that constitutes official diplomatic recognition of a Palestinian state. Previously, the Vatican’s diplomatic recognition had been extended to the Palestine Liberation Organization.
The Israeli Foreign Ministry condemned the move, saying it was “disappointed” by it.
“This move does not promote the peace process and distances the Palestinian leadership from returning to direct and bilateral negotiations,” the ministry said in a text message, AP reported. “Israel will study the agreement and will consider its steps accordingly.”
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas is scheduled to visit Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday ahead of the canonization of two new saints from the Holy Land on Sunday. Abbas previously visited Francis at the Vatican in 2013.
The Vatican has strong religious interests in the Christian holy sites that dot Palestinian territory in the West Bank, which is under Israeli occupation.
A Palestinian spokesman played down the development Wednesday, saying that the Vatican effectively recognized the state of Palestine in 2012 after the U.N. General Assembly accepted it as a non-member observer state.
The spokesman said there has been an ambassador from the state of Palestine at the Holy See for several years and that for at least that long, the Palestinian government has regarded the Vatican as one of the states recognizing Palestine. “Nothing new” occurred in Wednesday’s exchange of documents, the spokesman said.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world...-1bb7ce3b3fb7_story.html?tid=trending_strip_3
