After 18 years of tough negotiations, the Catholic Church agreed to
waive its demand to receive sovereignty over the Cenacle (the location
of the "Last Supper") on Jerusalem's Mount Zion. In return, Israel
agreed to consider giving the Church access to the place and even
consider a leasing option. It was also agreed that the Vatican would
start paying a reduced property tax for its assets in Israel. Over the
years, Israel suffered losses of tens of millions of shekels due to
the Vatican's failure to pay property tax. The understandings were
reached in a meeting held last weekend between Deputy Foreign Minister
Danny Ayalon and the Vatican's deputy foreign minister.



