Israel Will Not Seize Catholic Church Assets

By JTA June 9, 2009

Israel will not seize funds of Catholic institutions in the country, as Italian and Catholic media had reported.

A statement Tuesday by the Israeli Embassy to the Holy See said that “the seizure of funds from the Ministry of Education destined for some educational institutions of the Catholic Church in Israel will not be made, and that the situation remains unchanged.”

Reports that Israel would seize assets of some Catholic institutions to pressure the Vatican to pay disputed taxes were published Monday by Catholic and Italian media.

Italian media Tuesday quoted Israeli sources as saying the reports were the result of “a technical error” and a “misunderstanding.”

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