Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine The Comprehensive Agreement between the Holy See and the State of Palestine is an agreement signed between the Vatican City State and the Palestinian Liberation Organization as representing the State of Palestine. It regulates the rights and obligations of the Catholic Church in areas of the Palestinian Authority, and reflects Vatican support of Palestinian aspirations for an independent state. The Vatican has been an ardent supporter of the Palestinian political struggle for an independent state ever since 1967. This support, in addition to the desire to gain support for
Holy See–Israel relations Basic Agreement between the Holy See and the PLO from 15 February 2000. Since its establishment, Israel has exerted its sovereignty over all holy sites within Israel, a new situation that Catholicism has had to contend with since 1948. For decades, the Vatican resented Israel's claims to effective authority by denying it diplomatic relations. Even following the formalization of diplomatic relations in 1994, the Vatican continued to contest Israel's sovereignty over Jerusalem. The Holy See traditionally seeks to safeguard also the Catholic presence in Jerusalem. During the war in 1948, not only Muslims but also Christians were among the population