Washington (AsiaNews) - The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops is asking the Bush Administration to urge the Government of Israel to bring to a successful conclusion its long drawn out negotiations with the Holy See on implementing the 1993 Fundamental Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Israel. In a letter to the new Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleeza Rice, the President of the Bishops' Conference, Bishop William S. Skylstad, states categorically: "U.S. intervention in this matter is critical." The leader of the U.S. episcopate recalls that, "it was only with strong U.S. encouragement that [the negotiations] were revived in July 2004," after Israel had unilaterally withdrawn its delegation on 28 August 2003. He then observes that, "Unfortunately, the revival of talks has been hesitant and fitful," and that, in addition, it appears that "the Israeli negotiators have not had full empowerment to conduct talks with the degree of seriousness they need." 

In the unusually detailed and strongly worded letter, the Bishops' Conference implies that the United States have a special responsibility to encourage Israel to keep its commitments to the Holy See, since the Holy See "formally recognized and established diplomatic relations with the state of Israel... in accord with the wishes of successive U.S. administrations." It is pointed out that the Holy See took those steps, in 1993-1994, "even without a full resolution of outstanding major issues of concern to the Church," since the Holy See trusted in the "promise by the Israeli government that these [issues[ would be addressed through further negotiations" - negotiations in which Israel has dragged its feet, causing delays and interruptions. 

Essentially, the Bishops' Conference says, the basis of the negotiations is "the rights acquired by the Church prior to the UN mandate establishing the State of Israel." That same UN mandate "reaffirmed" these rights, it is recalled.  

The Bishops' letter also makes explicit reference to major issues now on the negotiating table, specifically (1) confirmation of the vital tax exemptions previously guaranteed to the Church, and (2) guaranteeing to the Church the right of access to the courts in disputes over religious property.

All of these matters, the President of the U.S. Bishops states, have a wider significance too. Indeed, "Resolving these matters is vital to the mission and life of the Catholic Church as well as other Christian communities in the Holy Land. A just resolution of these serious concerns is also critical to interreligious relations in the wider region and the world." 

The letter to Dr. Rice bears the date 13 January this year. Three days earlier, the same President of the Bishops' Conference sent an analogous letter to the Ambassador of Israel in Washington, Daniel Ayalon. There, among other things, the Conference President, having recalled the support given by the U.S. Bishops to the 1993 Fundamental Agreement between Israel and the Holy See, warns that, "The failure to enact and implement the Fundamental Agreement, including the lack of progress in negotiations [currently underway], raises serious questions about the basic commitments made by the Israeli government." He emphasises that the Bishops' protests and warnings are made in the context of "our long ties to the Jewish people and with an abiding commitment to the rights and security of the State of Israel." It is clearly hoped that this reference will lend further credibility and urgency to this message of the episcopate. Israel is being told, in effect, that these protests and criticisms, are coming from friends, and that it is, therefore, very much in Israel's interest to pay attention to them, and maintain the friendship. 

Expert observers approached for comment for this report are pointing out that the two letters are exceptionally firm and precisely focused, and that they are intended to serve as a signal that the Catholic Church in the United States intends to stay very much involved in pressing Israel to recognise the rights and freedoms of the Catholic Church, and to be faithful to the precise undertakings Israel gave to the Holy See in the Fundamental Agreement.  It is known that both the White House and the Department of State, as well as influential members of both Houses of Congress, have been following the progress of the Holy See-Israel negotiations rather closely for some time now, and the Bishops' letter to Dr. Rice will no doubt encourage them to continue to do so.  

Israeli sources say that, shortly after the dates of the two letters from the U.S. episcopate, Israel and the Holy See set the dates of 15-16 February for the negotiations to proceed. There has been no public announcement by either Israel or the Vatican.

The letters can be read on the web at: http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/rice011305.htm

Letter to Amb. Ayalon available at  http://www.usccb.org/sdwp/international/ayalon011805.htm