Arieh Cohen

Israel’s new government, which takes offices today, is raising fears and concerns among Christians over entry visas and among average Israelis over relations with Iran and the Palestinians. The “peace process” seems now dead in the water. In May Benedict XVI will visit a land that appears to be sliding ever more into desperation and war.

For the prime minister, “relations with the Vatican and the Christian world are very good.” The satirist said who offended Jesus and Our Lady sought revenge against the Holocaust-denying views of Lefebvrist Bishop Williamson.

The Bilateral Commission met yesterday. The joint communiqué speaks of “progress” towards an agreement in the making since 1999.

There are no guarantees of a new government. The right secures a majority, but tensions are high between Liebermann’s secularists and the ultra-orthodox Shas. A government of national unity is no improbable excluding new steps on the road to peace. Peace and a resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are put off to the next government.

Israeli leaders are thinking only of reaching a new ceasefire with Hamas, but it is important to lay the foundation for a peace treaty. Uncertainty over Abou Mazen, and the future of the Israeli government. Benedict XVI's visit to the Holy Land comes at a good time.

The next round of meetings has been scheduled: four in just three months, after years of inaction. The date of the plenary assembly has been moved up, and everything will be completed before May of 2009, when Benedict XVI is expected to arrive in the Holy Land.

The question of taxes and the restitution of Church property at the heart of two days of discussion. Among them the sanctuary of Cesarea, confiscated and destroyed during the ‘50’s. A visit by Benedict XVI to the Holy Land could speed up negotiations.

The implementation of the Fundamental Agreement and discussions over tax exemptions for the Church have been going on since March of 1999. The next meeting will be held on December 17.

Peace with Syria, which would be followed by peace with Lebanon, would allow the Jewish state to live in peace with all of its neighbours, would distance Damascus from Iran, forcing Hezbollah to become a normal political party, and would also have an effect on the Palestinians. Why not reconvene the Madrid conference, asks an expert observer of Mideast religious and politicals affairs.

This is what is emerging from the meeting of the Bilateral Permanent Working Commission, which renews its commitment to accelerate the conclusion of an agreement. Among the objectives, the restitution of the Cenacle. The plenary meeting in Rome on May 28.

The Israeli interior ministry seems to be working at cross purposes: it issues visas, and then does not recognise them. That is entirely the fault of the "secretiveness" that shrouds the procedure and criteria for issuing visas. There is also the need for the accords with the Vatican to be put into effect at last, in order to have clear rules for visas for ecclesiastical personnel.

The short press release says talks between the parties were conducted in “great cordiality.” another meeting has been set for 17 March. Negotiations have been going on for 15 years.