ISRAELI DIRECTOR FOR INTER-RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS SEES AGREEMENT

C O N F I D E N T I A L VATICAN 000455

SIPDIS


DEPT FOR EUR/WE LEVIN; NEA/IPA; DRL/IRF DEATHERAGE

E.O. 12958: DECL: 3/7/2015
TAGS: IS KPAL PREL PGOV VT
SUBJECT: ISRAELI DIRECTOR FOR INTER-RELIGIOUS AFFAIRS SEES AGREEMENT
WITH VATICAN IN MONTHS; HOLY SEE SKEPTICAL

REF: Jerusalem 2754

CLASSIFIED BY: Peter Martin, POL, Vatican, State.
REASON: 1.4 (b),(d)

--------------
Summary
--------------


1. (C) During a recent visit to Rome, Israel's MFA Director
for Inter-Religious Affairs Barkan told Charge that agreement in
principle on how to resolve the outstanding issues between the
Holy See and Israel had been reached in a mid-February
negotiating session between the two sides. There were still
details to work out, but he expressed confidence that all issues
would be resolved within a few months. Barkan attributed the
sudden progress to a decision taken by PM Sharon in mid-February
to resolve this issue because of the damage it was doing to
Israel's image in the U.S. and elsewhere in the "Christian
world." Senior Holy See officials welcomed this apparent
unblocking of the long-stalled negotiations, but have been
privately skeptical that Israel will be able to resolve the
issues in this timeframe. End Summary.

--------------
Agreement Reached in Principle
--------------


2. (C) During a dinner hosted by the Israeli Ambassador in late
February, Israeli MFA Director for the Office of Inter-Religious
Affairs Nimrod Barkan told Charge that the just-concluded round
of negotiations with the Holy See had set the long-stalled talks
on fiscal and legal matters on the road to resolution. Barkan
asserted that agreement in principle had been reached on "how to
resolve the remaining issues." There was still some work ahead
to translate these "principles" into final agreements, he said,
but he expressed confidence they could be worked out in 3-4
months. Barkan said that in his meetings with senior Vatican
officials, including FM-equivalent Lajolo, he assured the Holy
See that Israel was committed to bringing the negotiations to
closure "to their full satisfaction."

--------------
Vatican Wants to Believe
--------------


3. (C) Despite Barkan's unrestrained optimism, senior Vatican
officials remain much more cautious. "We have heard these
promises before," Vatican Assessor Gabriele Caccia told Charge,
"and we just don't know what to make of them." He added, "we
hope they are true, but experience has taught us not to get our
hopes up." Caccia's view was echoed by DFM equivalent Pietro
Parolin, who said the late-February talks had seemingly gone
well, and that further sessions had been scheduled.


4. (C) The Vatican's chief negotiator, Father David Jaeger,
publicly confirmed that there had been "a good atmosphere" at
the negotiating sessions, but added that he hoped that this good
atmosphere would "be translated effectively in agreed texts."
He also noted that he believed "ideas are available for a
satisfactory solution" for both sides. Privately, however,
Jaeger told Poloff that the Israelis were mounting a full-court
public relations campaign to overcome the negative publicity
that has built up around their foot-dragging on these talks. He
said he had remained positive in the press so as not to
undermine his counterparts. Jaeger remains skeptical, however.
"It's one thing to say these things in the press, but another
to bring a piece of paper to the table," he said. He remains
hopeful that the desire to get out from under the negative
publicity will be enough to push the Israeli ministries involved
to the needed compromises.

--------------
Sharon's Marching Orders
--------------


5. (C) When Charge noted to Barkan the Holy See's skepticism,
Barkan and Israeli Ambassador Ben-Hur acknowledged that the Holy
See had reason to be skeptical in the past. He pointed out
that the taxation and legal issues have implications for all
other religious groups in Israel, adding that the way in which
Israel resolves these issues with the Holy See will be seen as a
precedent by other religious groups, including Jewish groups.
For that reason, a number of ministries concerned had dug in
their heels and refused to move. In mid-February, however,
Barkan said PM Sharon told his cabinet he wanted to get this
issue behind him, because it was not worth "antagonizing the
Christian world." This decision had generated instructions to


the negotiators that the Israelis believe will lead to agreement
in the coming months.

--------------
Comment
--------------


6. (C) The Holy See has been aggressively pressing its case to
resolve the final issues relating to the 1993 Fundamental
Agreement over the past year, raising its concerns in meetings
with the President, Vice-President, and Secretary, and engaging
the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops to generate
congressional and public pressure. The Holy See is deeply
concerned for the future of Christians in the Holy Land, and
believes the continuing problems on immigration, pastoral care,
schools, taxes and property have made life difficult for the
remaining Christians, weakening the Christian presence in the
region. They believe that only forceful U.S. engagement will
lead to a resolution, and will want to pull out all the stops to
keep the pressure on now that an agreement seems to be within
reach.

HARDT


NNNN