Arafat, Pope to sign accord
Palestine-Vatican, Politics, 2/15/2000

The Vatican will sign an agreement with the Palestinian government on the status of Catholic churches in Jerusalem, an indication it recognizes Palestinian claims to the contested city, a Palestinian official said Sunday.

The accord is to be signed Today by Palestinian President Yasser Arafat and Pope John Paul II in a meeting at the Holy See, Nabil Abourdeneh, Arafat's advisor said.

Two years ago, Israel and the Holy See signed an agreement to place Catholic Institution in Israel and East Jerusalem under Israeli Jurisdiction. The Palestinians were concerned that the agreement implied recognition of Israeli claims to the disputed eastern sector of Jerusalem.

Relatedly, the Patriarch of Jerusalem, Michel Sabbah, said Pope John Paul II intends to plead, during his visit to Bethlehem next month, for the right of Palestinian refugees to return to their occupied land.

The Catholic church backs the right of all Palestinian refugees to return to their homeland, Sabbah said.

Previous Stories:
  Not everybody in Israel happy with the forthcoming visit by the Pope   (1/21/2000)
  Palestinian government welcomes Pope visit   (12/27/1999)
  Palestinian, Israeli youth delegations meet with the Pope   (9/24/1999)

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