Israel establishes diplomatic relations with the Vatican 1994

א.1 | Relations with the Vatican, 1948–1990: an overview

1. Walter Eytan, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Maurice Fischer, Israel Representative in Paris; 15 September 1948 (in English)

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2. Jacob Herzog, Head of the Department for Christian Communities in the Ministry of Religious Affairs to Moshe Sharett, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yissachar Dov Weiss, Director General of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Walter Eytan, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 7 October 1948.

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3. Moshe Sharett, Minister of Foreign Affairs, to Walter Eytan, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 17 April 1949 (in English)

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4. Eliahu Sasson, Israel Ambassador in Rome to Walter Eytan, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 29 October 1958

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Information about the new pope, John XXIII, and his attitude to the Jewish people and Israel.

5. Pope John XXIII to President Izhak Ben-Zvi (in Latin, translation into Hebrew) and President Ben-Zvi’s Response; 23 – 30 November 1958

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An exchange of greetings between the new Pope and the Israeli president.

6. Arye Levavi, Assistant Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem, to Maurice Fischer , Israel Ambassador in Rome; 13 January 1964 (in English)

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The text of Pope Paul VI’s note to President Zalman Shazar following his visit to Israel

7. Abba Eban, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Rome, to Alon and Gideon Raphael, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem; 6 October 1969

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His visit to the Vatican.

8. Exchange of messages between Pope Paul VI and President Zalman Shazar; 18 September 1970, 14 October 1970 (in English)

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Hopes for peace following the ceasefire which ended the War of Attrition

9. Emile Najar, Israel Ambassador in Rome: Report on Prime Minister Golda Meir’s Meeting with Pope Paul VI on 15 January 1973; 23 January 1973

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10. President Yitzhak Navon, Jerusalem, to Pope John Paul II, the Vatican; 19 April 1979 (in English)

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11. Joseph Ciechanover, Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Rome, to Prime Minister Menachem Begin, Jerusalem; 23 April 1979

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His meeting with Pope John Paul II; results of the peace treaty with Egypt, the status of Jerusalem

12. President Yitzhak Navon, Jerusalem, to Pope John Paul II, the Vatican; 1 July 1982 (in English)

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Justifies Israel’s intervention in Lebanon and asks for the support of the Vatican in restoring peace on the border.

12A Nissim Yaish, in Charge of Relations with the Christian Churches and Jerusalem, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem to Israel’s Missions Abroad; 24 April 1984

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An Apostolic Letter from the Pope about Jerusalem.

13. Nathan Ben Horin, in Charge of Relations with the Vatican, Rome, to Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 21 February 1985

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Prime Minister Shimon Peres’ talk with Vatican Secretary of State Cardinal Casaroli in preparation for his meeting with Pope John Paul II

14. Nathan Ben Horin, Israel Embassy, Rome to Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 1 March 1985

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Media coverage of Prime Minister Shimon Peres’ meeting with the Pope on 20 February 1985

15. Peled, Israel Embassy in Rome to Yael Vered, Deputy Director General and the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 14 April 1986,

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The Pope’s visit to the synagogue in Rome

16. The Israel Consul General in Milan to the Director of the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem; 9 September 1988

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The head of the Milan Jewish community visited Auschwitz and heard from the Carmelite nuns that they do not intend to carry out the agreement to leave the site of the convent.

17. Miron Gordon, Israel Embassy in Rome, to the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem; 20 March 1989

Pope John Paul II’s attitude to the Auschwitz convent issue, as described in a talk with his  childhood friend, Jerzy Kluger.

18. Message from Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, the Vatican, to the Mayor of Jerusalem Theodore “Teddy” Kollek, Jerusalem; 23 June 1989, (German with Hebrew translation)

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19. Yitzhak Aviran, Israel Embassy in Paris to the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem; 11 August 1989

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Israel’s attitude to the debate on the convent in Auschwitz.

 20. Gabriel Padon, Israel Embassy in Bonn, to Uri Gordon, Adviser to the Minister on Church Affairs; 14 August 1989

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The protest of German Jewry over the Church’s failure to carry out the agreement on the convent in Auschwitz.

21. Medad Medina, Deputy Director of the Christian Churches Division, Jerusalem, to Mark Amir, Israel Embassy in Bonn; 15 March 1990

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The history of Israel’s relations with the Vatican.

א.2 | 1991 - a year of change

22. Statement of the Holy See Press Officer; 25 January 1991 (in English)

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The Holy See recognizes Israel even though it has not established diplomatic relations with it. The Pope is concerned for the security of Israel’s citizens. The barrier to establishing relations is a legal one, related to problems such as Israel’s relations with the Palestinians and the status of Jerusalem.

23. Mordechai Drory, Israel Ambassador in Rome, to Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 5 February 1991

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Media interest in the question of Israel’s relations with the Vatican; an interview with Italian Prime Minister Andreotti

24. Moshe Gilboa, the Adviser to the Foreign Minister on Christian Churches, Jerusalem, to Mordechai Drory, Israel Ambassador in Rome; 7 February 1991

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A consultation at the Foreign Ministry on establishing diplomatic relations with the Vatican.

25. Mordechai Drory, Israel Ambassador in Rome to the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 13 February 1991

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The Catholic church’s attitude to the first Gulf War and its influence on relations with Israel.

26. Moshe Gilboa, the Adviser to the Foreign Minister on Christian Churches, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem, to Mordechai Drory, Israel Ambassador in Rome; 18 February 1991

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27. Moshe Gilboa, the Adviser to the Foreign Minister on Christian Churches, Jerusalem to the Heads of Israel’s Missions Abroad; 7 March 1991

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The Pope’s announcement (in English) on a possible visit to Jerusalem

28. Press release from the Israel Ministry of Religious Affairs welcoming a possible visit by the Pope; 6 March 1991

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29. Moshe Gilboa, the Adviser to the Foreign Minister on Christian Churches, Jerusalem, to Mordechai Drory, Israel Ambassador in Rome; 14 March 1991

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Meeting with the Apostolic Delegate di Montezelemo in Jerusalem

30. Ami Gluska, Israel Embassy in London, to Moshe Gilboa, the Adviser to the Foreign Minister on Christian Churches, Jerusalem; 15 March 1991

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Reports in the local Catholic press on the Pope’s plan to visit Jerusalem

31. President Chaim Herzog to Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir; 31 March 1991,

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Proposes to co-ordinate Israel’s response to a possible visit by the Pope to Jerusalem

32. Mordechai Drory, Israel Ambassador in Rome to the Deputy Director-General, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 4 April 1991

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Proposes a consultation on the possibility of a visit by the Pope to Jerusalem. Such a visit may encourage unwanted attention to the political question of the status of Jerusalem.

33. Yitzhak Shoham, Israel Embassy in Rome, to Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem; 19 April 1991

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A survey of the Catholic church’s attitude to Jerusalem and the Holy Places since 1887.

34. Moshe Gilboa, the Adviser to the Foreign Minister on Christian Churches, Jerusalem to Israel’s Missions Abroad; 22 April 1991

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The Apostolic Delegate in Jerusalem took part in the President’s reception on Independence Day.

35. Yitzhak Shoham, Israel Embassy in Rome to Christian Churches Division, Foreign Ministry; 23 April 1991

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His meeting with the official responsible for the Middle East, Msgr. Gatti, on relations with the Vatican.

36. Memorandum by Eli Yerushalmi, Deputy Director of the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem , 1 May 1991

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Summarizes developments in the controversy over the convent in Auschwitz. A new site for the convent is being prepared.

37. Moshe Gilboa, the Adviser to the Foreign Minister on Christian Churches, Jerusalem to Joseph Hadas, Acting Director General of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs; 13 August 1991,

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Recent developments in relations with the Vatican.

38. Yitzhak Shoham and Miriam Ziv, Israel Embassy in Rome to the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 3 September 1991

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39. Mordechai Drory, Israel Ambassador in Rome to the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 20 September 1991

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The Vatican is disappointed that they are being excluded from the forthcoming peace conference.

40. Moshe Gilboa, the Adviser to the Foreign Minister on Christian Churches, Jerusalem to Joseph Hadas, Acting Director General of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 28 October 1991

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His meeting with the deputy foreign minister of the Vatican, Celli.

41. Miriam Ziv, Israel Embassy in Rome, to the Christian Churches Division, Foreign Ministry; 8 November 1991

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Summary of a newspaper article on the Vatican and the Middle East.

42. Summary of a Discussion in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before the Departure of Ambassador Pazner, Israel’s New Envoy in Rome; 11 November 1991

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43. Miriam Ziv, Israel Embassy in Rome, to Moshe Gilboa, the Adviser to the Foreign Minister on Christian Churches, Jerusalem; 20 November 1991

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A talk with the Italian ambassador to the Vatican; the Holy See is ready for exploratory bilateral talks with Israel.

44. Moshe Gilboa, the Adviser to the Foreign Minister on Christian Churches, Jerusalem to the Ambassador in Rome; 5 December 1991

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45. Miriam Ziv, Israel Embassy in Rome to Moshe Gilboa, the Adviser to the Foreign Minister on Christian Churches, Jerusalem; 30 December 1991

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א.3 | 1992-1994: Official talks lead to a historic agreement

46. Report on the 1st meeting of the Vatican-Israel Bilateral Commission; Jerusalem, 20 May 1992 (in Hebrew and English)

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47. Report on the Second Meeting of the Vatican-Israel Bilateral Committee; Jerusalem, 15 July 1992

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48. Joseph Hadas, Director-General of the Ministry of the Foreign Affairs to Foreign Minister Shimon Peres: Summary of the Meeting in the Vatican; 31 July 1992

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The first public meeting between Israel and representatives of the Holy See in the Vatican. It was decided to set up a permanent joint commission with a view to normalizing relations.

49. The Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem, to the Heads of Israel’s Missions Abroad; 10 August 1992

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A report on the meeting at the Vatican.

50. Uri Mor, Head of the Department for Christian Communities, Ministry of Religious Affairs, Jerusalem to the Forum of Directors-General Dealing with the Talks with the Vatican; 26 August 1992

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Argues that the interest of the Catholic Church in establishing relations with Israel is at least as strong as Israel’s interest in these relations.

51. Director, Christian Churches Division, Ministry for Foreign Affairs to Eytan Benzur, the Deputy Director General and Avi Gil, the Director of the Foreign Minister’s Bureau; 15 October 1992

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Memorandum in preparation for the foreign minister’s meeting with the Pope.

52. Aviezer Pazner, Israel Ambassador in Rome to Director, Christian Churches Division Ministry for Foreign Affairs; 18 October 1992

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The ambassador’s views on the most useful approach in Peres’ planned meeting with the Pope.

53. Information Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Israel’s Missions Abroad; 23 October 1992

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Interview with Foreign Minister Shimon Peres in Italy on Israel Radio

54. Aviezer Pazner, Israel Ambassador in Rome to Director, Christian Churches Division Ministry for Foreign Affairs; 27 October 1992

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Report on Peres’ meeting with the Pope.

55. Aviezer Pazner, Israel Ambassador in Rome to Director, Christian Churches Division Ministry for Foreign Affairs; 11 November 1992

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The crisis in the talks with the Vatican and his meeting with the deputy foreign minister, Cardinal Celli.

56. Aviezer Pazner, Israel Ambassador in Rome to Director, Christian Churches Division Ministry for Foreign Affairs; 13 November 1992

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The crisis in the talks with the Vatican.

57. Eli Yerushalmi, Deputy Director of the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem, to Aviezer Pazner, Israel Ambassador in Rome; 25 November 1992,

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Minutes of the third meeting of the Israeli delegation with the Vatican delegation. Foreign Minister Shimon Peres and Deputy Minister Yossi Beilin took part.

58. Eitan Margalit, Director of the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem to Aviezer Pazner, Israel Ambassador in Rome and Miriam Ziv, Israel Embassy in Rome; 24 November 1992

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59. Eitan Margalit, Director of the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem to Miriam Ziv, Israel Embassy in Rome; 22 December 1992

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A meeting of experts on the subject of the recognition of ecclesiastical education.

60. Robbie Sabel, Legal Adviser to the Foreign Ministry to Eitan Margalit, Director of the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem; 24 December 1992

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Reservations about the agreement on the recognition of ecclesiastical education.

61. Aviezer Pazner, Israel Ambassador in Rome, to Eitan Margalit, Director of the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem; 19 January 1993

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An assessment of progress in relations with the Vatican; the influence of Arab pressure and of Israel’s expulsion of Hammas activists to Lebanon.

62. Eitan Margalit, Director of the Christian Churches Division to Avi Pazner, Israel Ambassador in Rome; 19 January 1993

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The Vatican’s reasons for suspension of the talks.

63: Aviezer Pazner, Israel Ambassador in Rome, to Eitan Margalit, Director of the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem; 21 January 1993

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Summary of Pazner’s conversation with Cardinal Willebrands about the convent in Auschwitz.

64. Miriam Ziv, Israel Embassy in Rome, to Eitan Margalit, Director of the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem; 3 February 1993

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A report on the results of the meeting with Msgr. Gatti.

65. Aviezer Pazner, Israel Ambassador in Rome, to Eitan Margalit, Director of the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem; 24 February 1993

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An unsuccessful meeting with the Vatican foreign minister, Archbishop Tauran.

66. The Forum of Directors-General with regard to the Holy Places, Jerusalem, to Yitzhak Modai, Minister of Finance and Yaacov Gavish, Income Tax Commissioner, Jerusalem; 28 November 1990

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An urgent letter about the tax exemption for the Christian Churches.

67. Eitan Margalit, Director of the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem to Aviezer Pazner, Israel Ambassador in Rome; 18 March 1993

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How to make tactical use of the tax exemption issue in talks with the Vatican.

68. Eitan Margalit, Director of the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem to Aviezer Pazner, Israel Ambassador in Rome and Miriam Ziv, Israel Embassy in Rome; 31 March 1993

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Return to the discussions and progress in Israel-Vatican relations

69. Miriam Ziv, Israel Embassy in Rome, to Eitan Margalit, Director of the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem; 24 March 1993

Her talk with Gatti: the state of the bi-lateral talks, the travels of the Vatican foreign minister, Archbishop Tauran, in the Middle East.

70. Eitan Margalit, Director of the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem to Aviezer Pazner, Israel Ambassador in Rome and Miriam Ziv, Israel Embassy in Rome; 2 May 1993

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The negotiations with the Vatican – another round of talks at expert level.

71. Eitan Margalit, Director of the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem to Aviezer Pazner, Israel Ambassador in Rome and Miriam Ziv, Israel Embassy in Rome; 16 June 1993

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Israel’s demand for progress towards full diplomatic relations.

72. Miriam Ziv, Israel Embassy in Rome, to Eitan Margalit, Director of the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem; 6 July 1993

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The Vatican’s opposition to a reference to the papal encyclical ‘Nostra Aetate’ in the agreement with Israel; attempts to postpone normalization and full diplomatic relations.

73. Israel Lippel, Adviser to the Minister for Religious Affairs, to Deputy Foreign Minister Yossi Beilin; 3 August 1993

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Opposition to signing a historic agreement with the Vatican without establishing full diplomatic relations. According to the draft agreement, a representative of the Vatican will be appointed who will have diplomatic status.

74. Miriam Ziv, Israel Embassy in Rome, to Eitan Margalit, Director of the Christian Churches Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem; 20 September 1993

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After the signing of the Oslo Accords (13 September 1993) there are signs of a breakthrough in negotiations with the Vatican. Reports that Msgr. Gatti is willing to advance towards full diplomatic relations.

75. Miriam Ziv, Israel Embassy in Rome to Eitan Margalit, Adviser to the Foreign Minister on Inter-Religious Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs; 15 October 1993

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The Vatican is concerned that the Jerusalem question will be settled by Israel and the PLO without any involvement of the Church.

76. Eitan Margalit, Adviser to the Foreign Minister on Inter-Religious Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem to Aviezer Pazner, Israel Ambassador in Rome; 31 October 1993

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They have reached agreement on the wording of the agreement with the Vatican, and Margalit and the Apostolic Delegate, di Montezelemo, initialled the agreement. Israel demanded that the formal signing take place before the end of 1993.

77. Eitan Margalit, Adviser to the Foreign Minister on Inter-Religious Affairs Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem, to Israel’s Missions Abroad: 26 December 1993

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A briefing in preparation for the signing of the Israel-Vatican agreement in Jerusalem on 30 December. Four months later full diplomatic relations will be established. The importance of the agreement for Israel’s relations with the Catholic church and for Jewish-Christian relations.

78. Text of the Fundamental Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Israel – Final Version (in Hebrew); 30 December 1993

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English text on the website of the Israel MFA

79. Draft of Deputy Foreign Minister Yossi Beilin’s speech at the signing ceremony of the Israel-Vatican agreement; 30 December 1993

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80. Speech Prepared for the Signature Ceremony between Israel and the Vatican; 30 December 1993

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81. Eitan Margalit, Adviser to the Foreign Minister on Inter-Religious Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem, to Hemda Golan, Legal Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem; 4 January 1994

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Explanatory notes for the transfer of the Agreement between Israel and the Vatican to the Knesset and the Government Secretariat

82. The Arab Affairs Department 2, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem to the Israel Embassy in Rome; 11 January 1994

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Interview with a Jordanian diplomat in Egypt regarding the signing of the agreement between Israel and the Vatican

83. Ahuva Oren, the Division for Inter-Religious Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem to Israel’s Missions Abroad; 18 January 1994

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A collection of comments on the agreement between Israel and the Vatican

84. Miriam Ziv, Israel Embassy in Rome to the Division for Inter-Religious Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem; 25 January 1994

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Reports that the Pope intends to visit Jerusalem.

85. Miriam Ziv, Israel Embassy in Rome to the Division for Inter-Religious Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem; 25 January 1994

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Further reports on the Pope’s statement about his hope to visit Jerusalem.

86. Knesset Member Avraham Ravitz to Samuel Jacobson, the Secretary General of the Knesset; 2 February 1994; 2 February 1994; Comments by Eitan Margalit to the Foreign Minister, 16 February 1994

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Arguments by an ultra-Orthodox Knesset Member against ratification of the agreement with the Holy See. He claims that the agreement should be with a political body (the Vatican) and not a religious one. Margalit’s reply: the Vatican is the name of a place and the Holy See is the correct title for the political body headed by the Pope.

87. Eitan Margalit, Adviser to the Foreign Minister on Inter-Religious Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Summary of the History of Israel-Vatican Negotiations, 1992-1994; Jerusalem, 14 March 1994

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Margalit believes that the main incentive for the Vatican in reaching agreement with Israel was obtaining a seat at the table when Jerusalem comes up in future peace negotiations.

88. Oren David, North America Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Israel Consul General, Houston; 6 March 1994

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The stand of the President of the United States Bill Clinton on the Jerusalem question

89. Eitan Margalit, Adviser to the Foreign Minister on Inter-Religious Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs to Deputy Foreign Minister Yossi Beilin, Jerusalem; 20 March 1994

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Recent indications that the Vatican seeks to take part in the peace process.

 

א.4 | Afterword: 1994-1995

90: Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin to Cardinal Angelo Sudano, 28 August 1994;  Sudano’s Response, 12 September 1994 (in English)MFA 9475/14

Rabin describes the state of negotiations with the PLO and the Jordanians to the Vatican Secretary of State; Sudano replies that he has informed the Pope about Rabin’s comments and emphasizes the Holy See’s concern for the peace process. He offers support and encouragement.

91. Boaz Modai, Israel Embassy in the Vatican, to the Division for Inter-Religious Affairs, Jerusalem; 21 November 1994

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Reports on the Pope’s assessment of peace with Jordan.

92. Boaz Modai, Israel Embassy to the Vatican, to the Division for Inter-Religious Affairs, Jerusalem; 19 January 1995

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A newspaper article on possible reasons for the postponement of the Pope’s visit to Jerusalem.

93. Gabriel Padon, Adviser to the Foreign Minister on Inter-Religious Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Jerusalem, to Deputy Foreign Minister Yossi Beilin and Director General Uri Savir, Jerusalem; 22 February 1995

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Proposals to celebrate the first anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations with the Vatican.