Reuters, 26/06 14:52 CET
By Philip Pullella
VATICAN CITY
(Reuters) – The Vatican signed its first treaty with the “State of
Palestine” on Friday, calling for “courageous decisions” to end the
Israeli-Palestinian conflict and backing a two-state solution.
The treaty, which made official the Vatican’s de facto
recognition of Palestine since 2012, angered Israel, which called it “a
hasty step (that) damages the prospects for advancing a peace
agreement”.
Israel also said it could have implications on its future diplomatic relations with the Vatican.
The accord, which concerns the Catholic Church’s
activities in areas controlled by the Palestinian Authority, also
confirmed the Vatican’s increasingly proactive role in foreign policy
under Pope Francis. Last year, it brokered the historic resumption of
ties between the United States and Cuba.
Archbishop Paul Gallagher, the Vatican’s foreign
minister, said at the signing that he hoped it could be a “stimulus to
bringing a definitive end to the long-standing Israeli-Palestinian
conflict, which continues to cause suffering for both parties”.
Full article available here: http://www.euronews.com/newswires/3028486-vatican-signs-first-treaty-with-state-of-palestine-backs-two-state-solution/
(Additional reporting by Maayan Lubell in Jerusalem; Editing by Tom Heneghan)
Source: Euronews
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