Vatican opposes Israeli annexation plan
The Vatican expressed concern over Israel's intend to annex large elements of the occupied West Bank, saying respect for international law and UN resolutions is an "indispensable element for the two peoples (Israelis and Palestinians) to live hand and hand."
The Vatican added that it "is following the situation closely, and expresses concern about any future actions that could further compromise dialogue", reports Arab News.
It expressed hope a resolution could soon be found through direct talks "in order that peace may finally reign in the Holy Land, so beloved by Jews and Christians and Muslims." A senior source in the Vatican told Arab News: "We believe the point has been made quite clearly."
Afif Safieh, the first Palestinian ambassador to the Vatican, from 1995 to 2005, told Arab News that its statement "reveals great irritation and exasperation toward Israel's total disregard of international law." He said the Vatican has always taken a pastime in the Palestinian question because "Palestine is the geographic located area of the birth of Jesus, and of the Christian message and its own propagation.
Then there are Palestinian Christian communities. Even though they're relatively small in number, they play an extremely prominent role in Palestinian society." Safieh, who was also ambassador to the united states, Russia, the united kingdom and holland, added: "The Vatican believes that the absence of a satisfactory solution (to the conflict) and the damaging of diplomatic avenues is a devastating blow for future years of Christians in the Holy Land. The lack of hope coming is pushing this community to shrink even more, and the Vatican believes that the Holy Land shouldn't become only a museum of holy places."
Safieh, who was deputy head of the Palestine Liberation Organization's delegation to the UN, said: "Since the start, the Vatican took an extremely principled position, a regular one, playing a role as the conscience for political decision-makers."
