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The fundamental agreement between the Holy See and the State of Israel
Nikola Eterović
Abstract
The signing of the Fundamental Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Israel represents an important moment in the histoiy of relations between the State of Israel, established in 1948, and the Apostolic See, the representative organ of the Catholic Church. The Agreement provides for the transformations of the present officilal relations into diplomatic relations, and provides some basic norms which will regulate the relations between the two parties. The Document refers not only to the two signing entities, but it regards also, in a certain way, Catholics and Hebrews scattered throughout
the whole world. To the theological foundation for a dialogue between
Catholics and Hebrews, formulated in the documents of the Second Vatican Council, there is now added an agreement with notable religious-political implications. In fact, the two parties pledge themselves to promote, in their bilateral and multilateral relations, many values which each holds dear, such as the defence of life, the advance of religious tolerance, the struggle against racism and antisemitism.
The Fundamental Agreement provides a juridical framework for the
Catholic Church in the State of Israel, and facilitates its pastoral activity. It fits in with the search for peace between the State of Israel and the official representatives of the Palestinian people, and it aims at favouring the global process of peace in the Middle East.
The Fundamental Agreement is interesting also from the concordatory point of view, because in it there can be seen traditional aspects present in other similar agreements which the Holy See has entered into with various States after Vatican Council II, together with some innovations, due to the special character of the two contracting subjects.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
52539
URI
Publication date:
21.6.1994.
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