ROANOKE TIMES 

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, December 30, 1993                   TAG: 9312300175
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: A-12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: VATICAN CITY                                LENGTH: Short

VATICAN, ISRAEL AGREE TO FULL DIPLOMATIC TIES

Negotiators for the Vatican and the state of Israel on Wednesday ratified a landmark agreement to establish full diplomatic relations, heralding a new era in the often contentious dialogue between Christians and Jews.

Papal spokesman Joaquin Navarro called the accord a "historic opening" that would enable the Holy See to play a greater role in the Middle East peace process.

Seen from history's perspective, the agreement is a breathtaking new direction: It was only in 1965 that the Second Vatican Council repudiated the concept of collective Jewish guilt for the death of Christ.

- Los Angeles Times 


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