Israel Diplomatic Recognition Vatican

Jewish leaders from the United States, Switzerland and Israel are gathering in Rome this weekend for unprecedented discussions with Pope John Paul II that they hope will help repair the damage to Catholic-Jewish relations caused by the pontiff's controversial meeting with Austrian President Kurt Waldheim at the Vatican in June. Rabbi Marc H.

Israel and the Vatican established full diplomatic ties Wednesday and said ambassadors will be exchanged soon, sealing a historic accord on mutual recognition and reconciliation after centuries of bitterness between Roman Catholics and Jews. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Yossi Beilin said he and Vatican envoy Archbishop Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo signed the relations agreement Tuesday.

Despite the historic accord to forge diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Israel, ignorance and painful misunderstandings remain between Christians and Jews. Now, leading Jewish and Roman Catholic scholars and clergy are looking to the next step: building understanding between two traditions that have so much in common and so much in dispute.

Despite the historic accord to forge diplomatic relations between the Vatican and Israel, ignorance and painful misunderstandings remain between Christians and Jews. Now, leading Jewish and Roman Catholic scholars and clergy are looking to the next step: building understanding between two traditions that have so much in common and so much in dispute.

Pope John Paul II conducted unprecedented talks Tuesday with Jewish leaders at his summer home here, calming the storm in Catholic-Jewish relations that arose in June when he received President Kurt Waldheim of Austria.

In their first meeting since the fall of communism, Pope John Paul II and world Jewish leaders pledged common cause Thursday in combatting renascent anti-Semitism in the emerging democracies of Eastern Europe. Although both sides hailed the warmth and cordiality of their encounter, the Vatican stood fast against Jewish appeals for diplomatic recognition of Israel.

Israel and the Vatican established full diplomatic ties Wednesday and said ambassadors will be exchanged soon, sealing a historic accord on mutual recognition and reconciliation after centuries of bitterness between Roman Catholics and Jews. Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Yossi Beilin said he and Vatican envoy Archbishop Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo signed the relations agreement Tuesday.

Israel and the Vatican will establish diplomatic ties by the end of the year, a big step in improving relations between Jews and Catholics after a long history of friction, Israel's ambassador in Rome said Tuesday. "We believe that in the soonest possible time we will be closing the agreement with the Vatican, signing it in Jerusalem and forging diplomatic relations," Ambassador Avi Pazner told Israel Army Radio. "There's almost no doubt we'll finish this matter by the end of the year."

Negotiators for the Vatican and the State of Israel on Wednesday ratified a landmark agreement to establish full diplomatic relations, heralding a new era in the often contentious 2,000-year-long dialogue between Christians and Jews. Papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro called the accord a "historic opening" that will enable the Holy See to play a greater role in the Middle East peace process.

Israel and the Roman Catholic Church opened talks in the Vatican on Wednesday on creating formal diplomatic ties, a move that would bridge a longstanding gap between the Jewish state and the world's largest Christian community. Israel's ambassador to Italy, Avi Pazner, and Yosef Hadass, the director general of Israel's Foreign Ministry, met with Cardinal Claudio Maria Celli, the Vatican undersecretary for state relations.

Negotiators for the Vatican and the State of Israel on Wednesday ratified a landmark agreement to establish full diplomatic relations, heralding a new era in the often contentious 2,000-year-long dialogue between Christians and Jews. Papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro called the accord a "historic opening" that will enable the Holy See to play a greater role in the Middle East peace process.

Israel and the Vatican will establish diplomatic ties by the end of the year, a big step in improving relations between Jews and Catholics after a long history of friction, Israel's ambassador in Rome said Tuesday. "We believe that in the soonest possible time we will be closing the agreement with the Vatican, signing it in Jerusalem and forging diplomatic relations," Ambassador Avi Pazner told Israel Army Radio. "There's almost no doubt we'll finish this matter by the end of the year."

Israel and the Roman Catholic Church opened talks in the Vatican on Wednesday on creating formal diplomatic ties, a move that would bridge a longstanding gap between the Jewish state and the world's largest Christian community. Israel's ambassador to Italy, Avi Pazner, and Yosef Hadass, the director general of Israel's Foreign Ministry, met with Cardinal Claudio Maria Celli, the Vatican undersecretary for state relations.

In their first meeting since the fall of communism, Pope John Paul II and world Jewish leaders pledged common cause Thursday in combatting renascent anti-Semitism in the emerging democracies of Eastern Europe. Although both sides hailed the warmth and cordiality of their encounter, the Vatican stood fast against Jewish appeals for diplomatic recognition of Israel.

Pope John Paul II conducted unprecedented talks Tuesday with Jewish leaders at his summer home here, calming the storm in Catholic-Jewish relations that arose in June when he received President Kurt Waldheim of Austria.

Jewish leaders from the United States, Switzerland and Israel are gathering in Rome this weekend for unprecedented discussions with Pope John Paul II that they hope will help repair the damage to Catholic-Jewish relations caused by the pontiff's controversial meeting with Austrian President Kurt Waldheim at the Vatican in June. Rabbi Marc H.