The Holy See diplomatically recognized Palestine today:
The Vatican had welcomed the decision by the U.N. General Assembly in 2012 to recognize a Palestinian state. But the treaty is the first legal document negotiated between the Holy See and the Palestinian state and constitutes official diplomatic recognition.
“Yes, it’s a recognition that the state exists,” said the Vatican spokesman, the Rev. Federico Lombardi.
The Israeli foreign ministry said it was “disappointed” by the development.
The move shouldn’t disappoint or surprise those familiar with the Palestinian Christian community on the ground, as the Holy See is an informal third party in the region through the Franciscan Custody of the Holy Land. Not only are Christian pilgrims a tremendous source of tourist revenue for both Israel and Palestine, but the Latin Patriarch has played the important role of mediator in many disputes, at times incurring the wrath of both Israeli Jews and Palestinian Muslims alike.
Of course, the Israeli government will more than likely shrug, for two reasons: (1) that Judea and Samaria — the occupied territories — still remain firmly in the hands of the Israeli government, and (2) the Vatican has merely codified a previous long-standing agreement with the PLO. In other words, the Holy See is picking winners and losers in the fight between Hamas and Fatah… and has decided to live with Fatah.
The disappointment is noted though, but bear in mind that Christians in the Holy Land haven’t had a good run as of late. Between ISIL and the mass exodus of Palestinian Christians caught between the Israelis (who view them as Palestinian) and the Palestinians (who view them as Christian). In the 1920s, Palestinian Christians consisted of 10% of the population. Today? An optimistic 2%:
Rising Muslim fundamentalism, a trend across the Middle East, concerns some. But most cite Israeli occupation as the prime cause of emigration and the decline of their community.
“If there was no political problem, the economic situation would be good, so the problems are linked,” Eissa said.
In Bethlehem alone, the Christian population has slumped to 7,500 from 20,000 in 1995. Then, the Middle East peace process had created hope that a Palestinian state would emerge alongside Israel. Some Christians who had left came back.
Sandra al-Shoumali, Abu al-Zulaf’s sister, and her husband were among those who invested at the time. They thought peace was imminent and saw a prosperous future in a new state. But talks collapsed in 2000 and several years of violence ensued.
The very real fear today is that Christians in the Holy Land will cease to be a living church and start becoming museum curators as Palestinian Christians — inconvenient as they are to both sides — seek out better lives elsewhere.
Yet there is no question (at least, in my mind) that the Christian community in the Holy Land is far better served with the Israeli presence there rather than entrusting our holy sites to Hamas and their friends.
As in most things, the issues are complicated. The Vatican has its interests, as do the Orthodox Churches, the Coptics, the Monophysites, and others.
Every rock, every stone, ever olive tree is precious in the Holy Land. One either sees horror in such madness, or a particular sort of beauty and love. Emphasizing the latter ends to bring more of the same… the former, likewise.
