BILATERAL PERMANENT WORKING COMMISSION BETWEEN THE STATE OF ISRAEL AND THE
HOLY
SEE

Plenary meeting of 26 January 2012, hosted by the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs

Joint Communiqué

The Bilateral Permanent Working Commission between the State of Israel and
the Holy See met today, 26 January 2012, at the Plenary level, hosted by the
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, to carry on negotiations pursuant to the
Fundamental Agreement Article 10 paragraph 2, dealing with economic and
fiscal matters.

The meeting was headed by Mr. Danny AYALON, MK, Deputy Minister of Foreign
Affairs and by Monsignor Ettore BALESTRERO, Under-Secretary for Relations
with States.

The negotiations took place in an open, friendly and constructive
atmosphere. Substantive progress was made on issues of significance.

The Parties have agreed on the next steps towards the conclusion of the
Agreement and to hold the next Plenary meeting in 11 June 2012 at the
Vatican.

The Delegation of the State of Israel (S.I.)
1. Mr. Daniel Ayalon, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chairman
2. Mr. Mordechay Lewy, Ambassador of the State of Israel to the Holy See.
3. Mr. Ehud Keinan, Deputy Director General-Legal Division, MFA.
4. Mr. Shmuel Ben Shmuel, Head of the World Jewish and Inter-religious
Affairs Bureau, MFA.
5. Mr. Oded Brook, Head of the International Affairs Division, Ministry
of Finance.
6. Mr. Bahij Mansour, Director of the Inter-religious Affairs Division,
MFA.
7. Mr. Moshe Golan, Senior Deputy State's Attorney responsible of Civil
Law Matters, Ministry of Justice.
8. Mr. Chen Ivri Apter, Policy Advisor, MFA.
9. Mr. Itai Apter, Adv, Ministry of Justice.
10. Mr. Ashley Perry, International Media Advisor to the DFM.
11. Ms. Karin Dosoretz, Legal Division.MFA

The Delegation of the Holy See (H.S.):

1. Monsignor Ettore BALESTRERO, Under-Secretary of the Holy See for
Relations with States, Chairman
2. HE Archbishop Antonio FRANCO, Apostolic Nuncio in Israel
3. HE Bishop Giacinto-Boulos MARCUZZO, Latin Patriarchal Vicar for Israel
4. Mgr. Maurizio MALVESTITI, Under-Secretary of the Congregation for
Oriental Churches
5. Mgr. Alberto ORTEGA MARTIN, Official at the Secretariat of State
6. Msgr. Waldemar Stanislaw SOMMERTAG, Counsellor of the Apostolic
Nunciature
7. Archimandrite Maher ABBOUD, Vicar General Greek-Melkite in the
Archeparchy of Akko
8. Fr. Elias DAW, President Tribunal Greek-Melkite Church in Israel
9. Father Pietro FELET, SCJ, Secretary AOCTS
10. Father Ibrahim FALTAS, General Administrator of CTS
11. Mr. Henry AMOROSO, Legal Adviser
12. Mr. Samir ABU NASSAR, C.P.A.
13. Father Gianni CAPUTA, SDB, Secretary H.S. Delegation

Mr. Ashley Perry
Advisor
Foreign Minister's Office
Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs
+972 (0) 50 620 3197
ashley.perry@mfa.gov.il