Itongadol.- The two sides are especially trying to reach a deal on King David’s Tomb – despite warnings by some right-wingers and ultra-Orthodox Jews.
Rarely would anyone expect front-page news from something called “The Bilateral Permanent Working Commission between the Holy See and the State of Israel.”
But right-wing “price tag” attacks and protests by ultra-Orthodox Jews have thrust into the limelight this commission, which for 15 years has been striving to negotiate a financial agreement between Israel and the Holy See over the Church’s property rights and tax obligations.
At the center of the dispute is a complex on Mount Zion in Jerusalem whose first floor is believed by Jews to house the tomb of King David. Its second floor is held sacred by Christians as the Cenacle, the site of the Last Supper.
In recent weeks, right-wing and religious media have published unconfirmed reports that the commission has achieved an accord and Israel has agreed to give the Vatican sovereignty over the contested Mount Zion building.
The news was referenced by the vandals who in recent weeks have scrawled anti-Christian graffiti on a Jerusalem church, including the slogan “King David is for the Jews.” Also, hundreds of ultra-Orthodox Jews gathered on Mount Zion to protest the supposed agreement and call on the pope to “stay in Rome.”
While Christian pilgrims can visit the Cenacle, prayer services are not allowed there. However, the pope is expected to celebrate Mass at the site during his visit, a plan that further angered rabbis who oppose any non-Jewish activity there.
The spate of attacks and the protests have added to the tension over Francis’ May 24-26 visit; both Jerusalem and the Vatican fear that the trip may be marred by further hate crimes. Israel’s envoy to the Holy See strongly denied that any such deal was in the offing; he said no agreement had been finalized.