Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06TELAVIV2923
2006-07-27 10:06:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Tel Aviv
Cable title:
ISRAEL CLAIMS IT IS SEEKING CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO
how-tonull Carol X Weakley 07/27/2006 01:07:44 PM From DB/Inbox: Carol X Weakley Cable Text: UNCLAS TEL AVIV 02923 SIPDIS CXTelA: ACTION: POL INFO: RES ECON DCM DAO IPSC AMB AID RSO ADM CONS PD IMO DISSEMINATION: POL CHARGE: PROG APPROVED: POL:NOLSEN DRAFTED: POL:MDPEARLSTEIN CLEARED: POL:BBERNSTEIN-ZABZA, POL:JMILLER, CONGEN:MMELLINGER VZCZCTVI233 PP RUEHC RUEHXK RUEHROV DE RUEHTV #2923/01 2081006 ZNR UUUUU ZZH P 271006Z JUL 06 FM AMEMBASSY TEL AVIV TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 5213 INFO RUEHXK/ARAB ISRAELI COLLECTIVE PRIORITY RUEHROV/AMEMBASSY VATICAN PRIORITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002923
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KIRF PHUM IL
SUBJECT: ISRAEL CLAIMS IT IS SEEKING CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE VATICAN
REF: TEL AVIV 06847
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 TEL AVIV 002923
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KIRF PHUM IL
SUBJECT: ISRAEL CLAIMS IT IS SEEKING CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE VATICAN
REF: TEL AVIV 06847
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: MFA Division Director for Religious
Affairs Zvi Tal told Staffdel Lara Alameh July 9 that the GOI
is considering creative options to advance GOI-Vatican
negotiations for a concordat on fiscal and legal matters, but
Tal did not elaborate on what the creative options might
entail. Alameh highlighted concerns about commercial
development encroaching on the Daughters of the Charity
Hospice in Jerusalem. Tal noted that the project is now
wholly private and, following the conclusion of a public
zoning process, the municipality had lost its ability to
intervene. Tal also promised to look into restrictions on
access to Bethlehem for East Jerusalem Palestinians. END
SUMMARY.
--------------
STATUS OF GOI-VATICAN NEGOTIATIONS
--------------
2. (SBU) MFA Division Director for Religious Affairs Zvi Tal
briefed Staffdel Alameh and Poloff on the status of GOI
negotiations with the Vatican for a concordat on fiscal and
legal matters. Tal explained that GOI and Vatican
negotiators met in mid-May, but that Foreign Minister Tzipi
Livni recently told her Vatican counterpart that each side
should be "more creative" in seeking a solution. Tal did not
provide any details about the creative ideas that the GOI
claims to be considering, but noted that the directors
general from the MFA and Finance ministries are scheduled to
meet in mid-July to coordinate approaches aimed at reaching a
breakthrough. Tal said that such a meeting could set the
stage for a bilateral meeting by the end of July. In the
absence of formal bilateral meetings, according to Tal,
GOI-Vatican working groups continue to discuss technical
matters.
3. (SBU) Tal also discussed his recent meeting with the
Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Antonio Franco, during which Tal
said he described the problem of exempting Catholic
institutions from a tax that would apply to all other
religious bodies and institutions. Tal said that he related
to the Nuncio that Jewish and other religious groups would
complain about a tax benefit exclusive to the Catholic Church
and that domestic political repercussions would follow for
the Israeli government. Tal said that he told the Nuncio
that taxes must be applied in a non-discriminatory manner and
that an addendum to an agreement with the Vatican could
assure the non-discriminatory collection of taxes.
--------------
DEVELOPMENT SURROUNDING THE DAUGHTERS
OF THE CHARITY HOSPICE IN JERUSALEM
--------------
4. (SBU) Alameh highlighted her concern about commercial
development that is encroaching upon the Daughters of the
Charity Hospice in Jerusalem. Tal said that the municipality
had been a partner in the development project when it first
commenced. Approximately ten years ago, however, the
development project became wholly private, which is why the
government cannot intervene, he claimed. Alameh mentioned
specific lease provisions that protected the hospice (e.g.
access to natural light),but Tal asserted that there had
been a public zoning process that allowed for public input on
development at the site and he surmised that the nuns who
oversee the hospice did not participate in the process.
Alameh stressed that the problems the hospice faces
illustrate the necessity for an agreement with the Vatican.
If such an agreement were in place, Alameh explained, then
the Nuncio could handle such legal and technical affairs.
5. (SBU) The hospice attorney, Naiem Khoury, informed ConGen
Poloff July 12 that the hospice and the construction company
developing the site next door had reached a tentative
agreement, whereby the access road serving the hospice will
remain under its sole control in return for the hospice
dropping its objections to the height of the new buildings.
Khoury expressed concern, however, over the planned location
for above-ground gas tanks next to the access road, which may
impede vehicular traffic. End note.)
--------------
RESTRICTIONS EAST JERUSALEM PALESTINIANS'
TRAVEL TO BETHLEHEM
--------------
6. (SBU) Alameh also questioned Tal about
recently-introduced restrictions that made it more difficult
for residents of East Jerusalem to get to Bethlehem. Tal
said that he is not familiar with the details, but he agreed
that the situation was "odd." He promised Alameh that he
would obtain additional details on why the changes were
implemented.
7. (U) This cable was cleared by staffdel.
********************************************* ********************
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv
You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website.
********************************************* ********************
JONES
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV KIRF PHUM IL
SUBJECT: ISRAEL CLAIMS IT IS SEEKING CREATIVE SOLUTIONS TO
NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE VATICAN
REF: TEL AVIV 06847
1. (SBU) SUMMARY: MFA Division Director for Religious
Affairs Zvi Tal told Staffdel Lara Alameh July 9 that the GOI
is considering creative options to advance GOI-Vatican
negotiations for a concordat on fiscal and legal matters, but
Tal did not elaborate on what the creative options might
entail. Alameh highlighted concerns about commercial
development encroaching on the Daughters of the Charity
Hospice in Jerusalem. Tal noted that the project is now
wholly private and, following the conclusion of a public
zoning process, the municipality had lost its ability to
intervene. Tal also promised to look into restrictions on
access to Bethlehem for East Jerusalem Palestinians. END
SUMMARY.
--------------
STATUS OF GOI-VATICAN NEGOTIATIONS
--------------
2. (SBU) MFA Division Director for Religious Affairs Zvi Tal
briefed Staffdel Alameh and Poloff on the status of GOI
negotiations with the Vatican for a concordat on fiscal and
legal matters. Tal explained that GOI and Vatican
negotiators met in mid-May, but that Foreign Minister Tzipi
Livni recently told her Vatican counterpart that each side
should be "more creative" in seeking a solution. Tal did not
provide any details about the creative ideas that the GOI
claims to be considering, but noted that the directors
general from the MFA and Finance ministries are scheduled to
meet in mid-July to coordinate approaches aimed at reaching a
breakthrough. Tal said that such a meeting could set the
stage for a bilateral meeting by the end of July. In the
absence of formal bilateral meetings, according to Tal,
GOI-Vatican working groups continue to discuss technical
matters.
3. (SBU) Tal also discussed his recent meeting with the
Papal Nuncio, Archbishop Antonio Franco, during which Tal
said he described the problem of exempting Catholic
institutions from a tax that would apply to all other
religious bodies and institutions. Tal said that he related
to the Nuncio that Jewish and other religious groups would
complain about a tax benefit exclusive to the Catholic Church
and that domestic political repercussions would follow for
the Israeli government. Tal said that he told the Nuncio
that taxes must be applied in a non-discriminatory manner and
that an addendum to an agreement with the Vatican could
assure the non-discriminatory collection of taxes.
--------------
DEVELOPMENT SURROUNDING THE DAUGHTERS
OF THE CHARITY HOSPICE IN JERUSALEM
--------------
4. (SBU) Alameh highlighted her concern about commercial
development that is encroaching upon the Daughters of the
Charity Hospice in Jerusalem. Tal said that the municipality
had been a partner in the development project when it first
commenced. Approximately ten years ago, however, the
development project became wholly private, which is why the
government cannot intervene, he claimed. Alameh mentioned
specific lease provisions that protected the hospice (e.g.
access to natural light),but Tal asserted that there had
been a public zoning process that allowed for public input on
development at the site and he surmised that the nuns who
oversee the hospice did not participate in the process.
Alameh stressed that the problems the hospice faces
illustrate the necessity for an agreement with the Vatican.
If such an agreement were in place, Alameh explained, then
the Nuncio could handle such legal and technical affairs.
5. (SBU) The hospice attorney, Naiem Khoury, informed ConGen
Poloff July 12 that the hospice and the construction company
developing the site next door had reached a tentative
agreement, whereby the access road serving the hospice will
remain under its sole control in return for the hospice
dropping its objections to the height of the new buildings.
Khoury expressed concern, however, over the planned location
for above-ground gas tanks next to the access road, which may
impede vehicular traffic. End note.)
--------------
RESTRICTIONS EAST JERUSALEM PALESTINIANS'
TRAVEL TO BETHLEHEM
--------------
6. (SBU) Alameh also questioned Tal about
recently-introduced restrictions that made it more difficult
for residents of East Jerusalem to get to Bethlehem. Tal
said that he is not familiar with the details, but he agreed
that the situation was "odd." He promised Alameh that he
would obtain additional details on why the changes were
implemented.
7. (U) This cable was cleared by staffdel.
********************************************* ********************
Visit Embassy Tel Aviv's Classified Website:
http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/telaviv
You can also access this site through the State Department's
Classified SIPRNET website.
********************************************* ********************
JONES