Israeli Embassy says Funds to Church in Holy Land not Frozen
(09 June 09 - RV) Israel’s Embassy to the Holy See has released a statement saying
that Church funds in the Holy Land will not be frozen, and that the current “situation
remains unchanged.”
A press release by the Israel’s Vatican Embassy said
that “the seizure of funds by the Ministry of Education destined for education institutions
of the Catholic Church in Israel shall not be carried out. The [current] situation
remains unchanged.” On 20 May the Chief Tax Collector at Israel's Finance Ministry
informed Catholic Church institutions that his office was seizing their funds to pay
for taxes he thought they owed the State. The Bilateral Permanent Working Commission
between the Holy See and the State of Israel, is currently negotiating (since 11 March
1999) a bilateral treaty on fiscal and property questions. At the end of the last
meeting, which was held in April, the delegations published a joint communiqué, which
spoke of "meaningful progress" having been achieved "by receiving a Report from a
Working Group". For the rest, the communiqué reiterated the assurances that the talks
were held in a climate of "great cordiality" and that both parties are committed to
the goal concluding the comprehensive agreement "as soon as possible".