Scottish Catholic Observer

THE Vatican’s top foreign affairs official has called for ‘courageous decisions’ from the UN in respect of the two-state solution for the Holy Land.

Addressing the UN General Assembly yesterday, Archbishop Dominique Mamberti did not say whether the Vatican supported Palestine’s request for full membership state, but said that they viewed the Palestinian bid to the UN ‘in the perspective of efforts to find a definitive solution’ to the Israeli-Palestinian question—as issue addressed by a U.N. resolution of 1947 that foresaw the creation of two states.

“One of them has already been created, while the other has not yet been established, although nearly 64 years have passed,” Archbishop Mamberti said. “The Holy See is convinced that if we want peace, it is necessary to adopt courageous decisions.”

The archbishop called on the UN to work with determination to achieve ‘the final objective, which is the realisation of the right of Palestinians to have their own independent and sovereign state and the right of Israelis to security, with both states provided with internationally recognised borders.’

He said the response of the UN to the Palestinian proposal would not resolve the long-standing conflict, which must be settled through good-faith negotiations. He urged the international community to adopt creative initiatives to promote a new round of peace talks.