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                               VIS-Press releases

MEETING OF PERMANENT WORKING COMMISSION HOLY SEE-ISRAEL

VATICAN CITY, 10 DEC 2010 (VIS) - Made public today was an English-language
communique concerning the plenary meeting of the Bilateral Permanent Working
Commission between the Holy See and the State of Israel, which was held at the
Israeli ministry of foreign affairs on 9 December.

"The meeting of the plenary commission took place in a good and open
atmosphere", the communique reads. "The delegation of the Holy
See was headed
by Msgr. Ettore Balestrero, under secretary for Relations with States, and the
delegation of the State of Israel was headed by Danny Ayalon, MK, deputy
minister of Foreign Affairs.

"At the start of the meeting, reference was made to the telegram sent by
Cardinal Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone S.D.B. to Benyamin Netanyahu,
prime minister of the State of Israel, conveying Pope Benedict XVI's assurances
of his prayers and his solidarity with the families of those who lost their
lives, to the wounded and to all who were affected by the recent forest fire in
northern Israel, as well as 'his appreciation for the rescue efforts which were
carried out with such selfless dedication', and his prayers 'that those who
have lost their homes in this tragedy may soon be able to rebuild their lives'.

"The Plenary discussed the next steps towards conclusion of the Agreement.

"The Plenary will hold its next meeting on 16 June 2011 at the Vatican. The
next 'Working Level' meeting will take place on 3 February 2011.
OP/VIS 20101210 (250)

SUMMARY

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