Vatican Officially Recognizes Palestine, Israel Seems Disappointed

Vatican City: Vatican has officially recognized Palestine as a State finalized a treaty of Wednesday; Israel expressed disappointment that it hurt peace prospects.

According to foreign news agency the bilateral treaty which is about activities of Catholic Church in the territory of Palestine finalized on Wednesday outlined that Holy See has switched its stand about recognition of the Palestine Liberation Organization to the state of Palestine.

The treaty is first legal agreement which an unambiguous confirmation of recognition between Holy See and State of Palestine while Vatican has unofficially recognized Palestine since two year when it welcomed decision of U.N. General Assembly to recognize a Palestinian state in 2012.

The Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi clearly described the Palestine as State and clear their stand about recognition of the state in its official statement that ‘Yes it is a recognition that the state exists’.

On other side Israel has expressed its clear disappointment on Vatican stand stated that it will not encourage peace talks and Palestine leadership will be far from direct and bilateral negotiations and after reviewing the agreement Israel will go ahead.

The United State and western countries oppose Vatican stand to recognize Palestine, disagreeing that it undermines the US efforts on Palestine-Israel talks about the statehood; however, some have hinted that stand would be changed if negotiation remain deadlocked.

American Jewish Committee has described it counterproductive to all who seek true peace between Israel and the Palestinians; the Anti-Defamation League stated it premature.

In 2012 U.N. recognized Palestine as a non-member observer state while Sweden recognized it last year, most of African, Asian and South American countries individually recognized Palestine as a state in past.