Pope Sends Prayers to Victims of Israeli Forest Fire

(December 11, 2010) Pope Benedict XVI assured his prayers for the victims of the four-day forest fire that took the lives of more than 40 people in Israel last week. This was announced in a statement on Friday from the Vatican regarding the Thursday plenary meeting of the Bilateral Permanent Working Commission between the Holy See and the State of Israel. The Holy See welcomed that meeting which was led for the Holy See by Monsignor Ettore Balestrero, undersecretary for relations with states. The Israeli ministry of foreign affairs hosted the plenary meeting of the working commission, which "took place in a good and open atmosphere," the Vatican stated. Israel's delegation was headed by Danny Ayalon, deputy minister of foreign affairs. The Holy See's statement recounted: "At the start of the meeting, reference was made to the telegram sent by Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B., Vatican’s secretary of State to Benyamin Netanyahu, prime minister of the State of Israel, conveying Pope Benedict XVI's assurances of his prayers and his solidarity with the families of those who lost their lives, to the wounded and to all who were affected by the recent forest fire in northern Israel, as well as 'his appreciation for the rescue efforts which were carried out with such selfless dedication,' and his prayers 'that those who have lost their homes in this tragedy may soon be able to rebuild their lives.'" The delegations at the working commission plenary assembly continued their conversations on the next steps toward conclusion of the 1993 Fundamental Agreement. Their next meeting will be June 16 at the Vatican.