Israel refuses Vatican's participation in Jerusalem negotiations

Israel's ambassador to the Vatican, Aharoun Lubeiz, on Sunday ruled out the Vatican's direct participation in future negotiations relating to the status of Jerusalem.

In a press conference he held in Rome the Israeli ambassador said: "The international community should support peace negotiations and take part in it. Yet, these negotiations should be direct and only between the two sides."

During a seminar organized last week by the Latin Patriarchy in Jerusalem, the Vatican's foreign minister, Jean-Louis Touran, called for involving the Vatican in the coming negotiations concerning the fate of Jerusalem.