by Mridula Tirumalasetti

Impunity Watch Reporter, Middle East

The Vatican announced on Wednesday that it will sign a treaty that officially recognizes Palestine as a state. “In Rome, Pope Francis will declare on May 17 two Palestinian nuns as saints, and we are in full preparation,” Bishop William Shomali told reporters. Given the international stature of Pope Francis, Palestinian leaders have celebrated this announcement.

The Holy See has been referring to Palestine as a state since 2012, when  the United Nations General Assembly voted Palestine should be recognized as a “non-member observer state.” However, the official recognition by the Vatican is a significant and symbolic step, as it supports Palestinians in their push for international recognition of their sovereignty. Husam Zomlot, who is a senior Palestinian foreign affairs official explained the importance, “The Vatican is not just a state. The Vatican represents hundreds of millions of Christians worldwide, including Palestinians, and has vast moral significance.”

Although Vatican officials, who favor a two-state solution, hoped the official recognition would help Israeli-Palestinian relations, Israel has declared that the actions of the Vatican have been disappointing. In fact, one Israeli foreign ministry official even indicated that there could be reprisals. The official stated, “This does not promote the peace process and a Palestinian return to negotiations…Israel will study the agreement and consider its next steps accordingly.”

Others states, including 135 states belonging to the United Nations, have already recognized Palestine as a sovereign state. Still, the European Union as a whole and the United States do not, and maintain that an independent state cannot emerge through unilateral recognition, but can only emerge through negotiations with Israel.  However, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has pledged that there will be no Palestinian state to emerge on his watch.

Still, there are some that believe the Vatican’s move was not supposed to be something dramatic. “I don’t think anyone is going to conclude that Pope Francis is any less committed to Israel’s security, welfare and flourishing,” said Rabbi David Rosen, who is the international director of interreligious affairs or the American Jewish Committee.

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Reuters- Vatican move on Palestine adds fuel to European debate– 14 May 2015

The Independent- Vatican recognizes State of Palestine: Does this mean Israel is becoming more isolated on the world stage?– 15 May 2015

AlJazeera- Vatican recognizes State of Palestine– 13 May 2015

BBC- Vatican to recognize Palestinian state in treaty– 13 May 2015

The New York Times- Vatican to Recognize Palestinian State in New Treaty– 13 May 2015