Pope Benedict
Photo: AFP
Vatican says Israel delegation cancels meeting
Vatican expresses disappointment over cancellation; Israel says meeting merely delayed, due to many international visits to region
The Vatican expressed regret on Wednesday after an Israeli delegation called off a meeting meant to discuss relations between the two states.
The Vatican said in a statement Israeli negotiators had told it on Monday they could not make the long-planned meeting because of the "international political context".
An Israeli foreign ministry spokesman explained that the delegation's trip to Rome "has not been cancelled but delayed".
He said the head of the delegation, foreign ministry director general Aaron Abramovich, had too many unexpected, last-minute commitments such as visits by UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice.
"The Holy See, even though it understands the motives, notes with regret these circumstances," the Vatican's statement said. The Vatican hoped to agree a new date as soon as possible.
The meeting with the Vatican - the first at this level in five years - was due to discuss details of outstanding relations between the Vatican and the Jewish state, including the tax and legal status of the Roman Catholic Church in Israel.
Catholic news service AsiaNews said Church officials had reacted with "disappointment and pain" To the news.
The Roman Catholic Church and Jews have a long history of strained relations. The two states established full diplomatic relations in 1993 and Pope John Paul II visited the Holy Land in 2000.
His successor, Pope Benedict, has said he would like to visit the Holy Land when the Middle East enjoys peace and stability.
