Vatican to sign first treaty with ‘State of Palestine’

The Vatican officially recognized the state of Palestine in a new treaty finalized Wednesday, immediately sparking Israeli ire and accusations that the move hurt peace prospects. The United States and Israel oppose recognition, arguing that it would undermine U.S.-led efforts to negotiate an Israeli-Palestinian deal on the terms of Palestinian statehood. The Vatican has been referring unofficially to the state of Palestine for at least a year.

This is a very important recognition, as the Vatican has a very important political status that stems from its spiritual status. We expect more EU countries to follow.

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' senior aide Nabil Shaath

The Palestinians celebrated the vote as a milestone in their quest for international recognition. Most countries in Africa, Asia and South America have individually recognized Palestine. 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.

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