Saturday, May 16, 2015

Sign of the Times: Vatican Officially Recognizes Palestinian State In New Treaty




VATICAN CITY (AP) — The Vatican officially recognized the state of Palestine in a new treaty finalized Wednesday, immediately sparking Israeli ire and accusations that the move hurt peace prospects.
The treaty, which concerns the activities of the Catholic Church in Palestinian territory, makes clear that the Holy See has switched its diplomatic recognition from the Palestine Liberation Organization to the state of Palestine.
The Vatican had welcomed the decision by the U.N. General Assembly in 2012 to recognize a Palestinian state. But the treaty is the first legal document negotiated between the Holy See and the Palestinian state and constitutes official diplomatic recognition.

"Yes, it's a recognition that the state exists," said the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi.
The Israeli foreign ministry said it was "disappointed" by the development.
"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. "Israel will study the agreement and will consider its steps accordingly."

The treaty was finalized days before Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas visits Pope Francis at the Vatican. Abbas is heading to Rome to attend Francis' canonization Sunday of two new saints from the Holy Land.
The Vatican has been referring unofficially to the state of Palestine for at least a year.
During Pope Francis' 2014 visit to the Holy Land, the Vatican's official program referred to Abbas as the president of the "state of Palestine." In the Vatican's latest yearbook, the Palestinian ambassador to the Holy See is listed as representing "Palestine (state of)."
The Vatican's foreign minister, Monsignor Antoine Camilleri, acknowledged the change in status, given that the treaty was initially inked with the PLO and is now being finalized with the "state of Palestine." But he said the shift was simply in line with the Holy See's position.

This isn't the first time that the Vatican under Francis has taken diplomatic moves knowing that it would ruffle feathers: Just last month, Francis referred to the slaughter of Armenians by Turkish Ottomans a century ago as a "genocide," prompting Turkey to recall its ambassador.

2 comments:

  1. Praise Christ Jesus for His Holy Word!
    Everything is aligning with the Word of God. The true body of Christ are those who stand with Israel and not against Israel. Jesus loves you so
    very much and so do I, unconditionally!

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  2. Just trying to understand: "The true body of Christ are those who stand with Israel and not against Israel." Doesn't the scripture say that Zion could only be rebuilt upon the return of the Messiah? Accordingly, because the Messiah has not yet returned, doesn't that make Israel- today- heretical? This is what the most orthodox Jews call it, "heretical". Indeed, how many Palestinian's have died in the name of Israel's existence- without the Messiah's return. They live in Apartheid. How does this align with scripture or the commandments? Just wondering.

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