Joint Communiqué Holy See – Israel

COMMUNIQUE – The Bilateral Permanent Working Commission between the Holy See and the State of Israel met today, February 11, 2014, in the David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem, at the Plenary level, to continue negotiations pursuant to the Fundamental Agreement Art. 10 paragraph 2.

The meeting was headed by Mr. Ze’ev Elkin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and by Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, Under-Secretary for the Holy See’s Relations with States..

The Plenary focused on a report that brings together outstanding issues for the Final Agreement. The parties took note of the progress achieved, in a thoughtful and constructive atmosphere, since the last Plenary of June 2013, and agreed on the next steps for future plenary session scheduled for June 2014 at the Vatican.

Delegation of the Holy See:

Msgr. Antoine Camilleri, Under-Secretary for Relations  of the Holy See with States

H.E. Arch. Antonio Franco, Apostolic Nuncio, Co-Chairman of the Working Level of the Bilateral Permanent Working Commission

H.E. Arch. Giuseppe Lazzarotto, Apostolic Nuncio in Israel

H.E. Bishop Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, Patriarchal Vicar for Israel

Msgr. Maurizio Malvestiti, Under-Secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches

Msgr. Alberto Ortega Martín, Official of the Secretariat of State

Msgr. Matteo De Mori, Counselor of the Apostolic Nunciature

Mr. Henry Amoroso, Principal Legal Adviser

Mr. Samir Abu Nassar, C.P.A., Financial and Tax Adviser

Archimandrite Maher Abboud, Greek-Melkite Archeparchy of Akko

Fr. Ibrahim Faltas O.F.M., Custody of the Holy Land

Sr. Naomi Zimmermann F.S.E., Secretary

Delegation of the State of Israel:

Mr. Ze’ev Elkin, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Ehud Keinan, Deputy Director General, Legal Division (MFA), Co-Chairman of the Working Level of the Bilateral Permanent Working Commission

Mr. Oded Brook, Head of International Affairs Division, Ministry of Finance

Mr. Akiva Tor, Head of World Jewish Affairs and World Religions Bureau (MFA)

Mr. Rami Hatan, Director of World Religions (MFA)

Mr. Moshe Golan, Senior Deputy State’s Attorney Responsible for Civil Law Matters, Ministry of Justice

Mr. Itai Apter, Department for International Agreements, Ministry of Justice

Ms. Karin Dosoretz, General International Law Department, Legal Division (MFA)

Mr. Rony Tzuberi, Chief of Staff, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

Ms. Rachel Gur, Senior Advisor, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs

Mr. Gershon Kedar, Deputy Foreign Minister’s Bureau

Ms Noga Katz, Media Advisor, Deputy Foreign Minister’s Bureau

Ms Tamar Abo, Law Clerk, Department for International Agreements, Ministry of Justice