VATICAN PUSHING FORWARD ON THE MIDDLE EAST

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 006195

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR EUR/WE (DEBORAH MENNUTI); S (CRAIG KELLY)

FROM EMBASSY VATICAN/MESSAGE NO. 214/01

E.O. 12958:DECL:11/29/11

TAGS: PREL RM RO IS VT
SUBJECT: VATICAN PUSHING FORWARD ON THE MIDDLE EAST


CLASSIFIED BY AMBASSADOR NICHOLSON FOR REASONS 1.5 (A) AND
(D) .

CONFIDENTIAL

PAGE 02 VATICA 06195 301326Z

1. (C) THE VATICAN ANNOUNCED ON NOVEMBER 28 THAT IT HAS
INVITED THE LEADERS OF THE DIFFERENT CHRISTIAN COMMUNITIES
IN THE HOLY LAND TO A MEETING ON DECEMBER 13. THE VATICAN
PRESS ANNOUNCEMENT CATEGORIZES THE MEETING AS PURELY
"PASTORAL" IN NATURE.


2. (C) DCM SPOKE WITH HIS ISRAELI COUNTERPART NOVEMBER 29.
ISRAELI DCM SAID THAT HIS EMBASSY HAS DISCOVERED THAT THE
MEETING IS BEING ORGANIZED BY THE VATICAN FOREIGN MINISTRY,
AND NOT ONE OF THE VATICAN COUNCILS (I.E. MINISTRIES) WHICH
WOULD NORMALLY BE INVOLVED IN RELIGIOUS/PASTORAL AFFAIRS.
IN ADDITION, THE ISRAELIS BELIEVE THAT THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF
THE MEETING WAS MEANT TO COINCIDE WITH A DOCUMENT ISSUED BY
THE CHRISTIAN LEADERS IN ISRAEL AND THE TERRITORIES
CONDEMNING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE NAZARETH MOSQUE.


3. (C) COMMENT: THE TIMING OF THIS MEETING, COUPLED WITH
THE VATICAN'S REQUEST FOR A MEETING WITH SECRETARY POWELL
IS A STRONG INDICATION THAT THE VATICAN IS PREPARED TO
BEGIN ACTIVELY PUSHING WHAT IT CONSIDERS ITS INTERESTS IN
THE MEPP. IT IS LIKELY THAT IT SEES AN OPENING CREATED BY
THE WAR ON TERRORISM TO PRESSURE THE ISRAELIS ON THE ISSUE
OF INTERNATIONAL GUARANTEES FOR THE RELIGIOUS SHRINES. IT
IS ALSO POSSIBLE THAT THAT FOREIGN MINISTER WILL RAISE THE
ISSUE OF THE NAZARETH MOSQUE WHEN HE MEETS THE SECRETARY ON
DECEMBER 4. NICHOLSON

CONFIDENTIAL

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2001VATICA06195 - Classification: CONFIDENTIAL