Israeli criticism for Palestinian government agreement with the Vatican

Tel Aviv addressed severe criticism yesterday to the Vatican due to the agreement signed between the Palestinian leadership and the Vatican for organizing Catholic church and the Palestinian Authority, which allows it to work freely in the Palestinian areas and emphasizes the Vatican's stance concerning Jerusalem's status.

On the other hand, Pope John Paul II is to arrive in the holy lands in the coming month, coming from Cairo.

The advisor of Jerusalem's patriarch Wadia Abu Nasar told ArabicNews.com that, "This agreement establishes the church's relation with the authority" and that the relations were strong without the agreement.