Bilateral permanent working Commission between the Holy See and the State of Israel
“The Bilateral Permanent Working Commission between the Holy See and the State of Israel met today 26 January 2012 at the Plenary level, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to carry on negotiations pursuant to the Fundamental Agreement Art 10 paragraph 2, dealing with economic and fiscal matters.
The meeting was headed by Mgr Ettore Balestrero, Under-Secretary for Relations with States, and by Mr Danny Ayalon, M.K., Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs.
The negotiations took place in an open, friendly and constructive atmosphere. Substantive progress was made on issues of significance.
The Parties have agreed on the next steps towards the conclusion of the
Agreement, and to hold the next Plenary meeting on 11 June 2012 at the Vatican”.
The Delegation of the Holy See
— Mgr Ettore Balestrero, Under-Secretary for Relations with States, Chairman
— H.E. Mons Antonio Franco, Apostolic Nuncio in Israel
— H.E. Mons. Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Israel
— Mgr Maurizio Malvestiti, Under-Secretary Congregation for Oriental Churches
— Mgr Alberto Ortega-Martin, Official at the Secretariat of State
— Mgr Waldemar Stanislaw Sommertag, Counsellor of the Apostolic Nunciature
— Archimandrite Maher ‘Abboud, Vicar General Greek-Melkite Archeparchy of Akko
— Fr Elias Daw, President Tribunal Greek-Melkite Church in Israel
— Fr Pietro Felet, SCJ, Secretary AOCTS
— Fr Ibrahim Faltas, General Administrator of CTS
— Mr Henry Amoroso, Legal Adviser
— Mr Samir Abu-Nassar, C. P.A.
— Fr Giovanni Caputa, SDB, Secretary H.S. Delegation
The Delegation of the State of Israel
— Mr Danny Ayalon, M.K., Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman
— Mr Shmuel Ben-Shmuel, Head of World Jewish and Inter-religious Affairs Bureau, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA)
— Mr Mordechay Lewy, Ambassador of Israel to the Holy See
— Mr Ehud Keinan, Legal Adviser, MFA
— Mr Moshe Golan, State Attorney's Office, Ministry of Justice
— Mr Itai Apter, Advisor Ministry of Justice
— Mr Bahig Mansour, Director, Department of Religious Affairs, MFA
— Mr Oded Brook, Head International Affairs Division, Ministry of Finance
— Mr Ashley Perry, Adviser to the Deputy Foreign Minister
— Mr Chen Ivri Apter, Senior Adviser Deputy Foreign Ministry's Bureau
— Mrs Karin Dosoretz, Legal Department MFA