VATICAN CITY, VATICAN – MAY 10: Pope Francis arrives at the Paul VI Hall private studio for a private audience with President of Cuba Raul Castro on May 10, 2015 in Vatican City, Vatican. (Photo by Franco Origlia/Getty Images)
VOX
- The Vatican has agreed to a new treaty with Palestinian representatives that refers to them as the State of Palestine, which the Associated Press is reporting as formal recognition of Palestine as a state. A Vatican spokesman told AP, “Yes, it’s a recognition that the state exists.”
- The Vatican has, in less formal ways, referred to Palestine as a state for some time. The treaty itself appears to mostly cover the role of the Catholic Church in Palestinian territory.
- According to the AP, “the treaty is the first legal document negotiated between the Holy See and the Palestinian state and constitutes an official recognition.”
Why recognizing Palestine matters
Recognizing “the state of Palestine” is mostly a symbolic act: it doesn’t in any way make the Palestinian Authority into an independent government. However, Vatican recognition would signal to Israel that the Holy See is unhappy with the continued Israeli occupation of territory it sees as Palestinian, and that it sees Palestinian independence as necessary in any peace deal.
Convincing more countries, particularly in Europe, to recognize Palestine is a key part of the new Palestinian strategy to put diplomatic pressure on Israel to end the occupation and negotiate a solution the conflict more favorable to Palestinian interests.
