Jun 8, 2009 / 14:58 pm
A report that Israel’s Chief Tax Collector had seized the funds of Catholic institutions in Israel was quickly countered on Monday when the apostolic nuncio to Israel said that the alarming claims of financial seizures resulted from a misinterpretation of a common government reminder.
The news outlet AsiaNews had reported that Yehezkhel Abrahamoff, the Chief Tax Collector at Israel’s Finance Ministry, had told Catholic institutions in Israel that he had seized their funds to force their submission to taxation.
Citing documentation and testimony from affected institutions that did not wish to be named “for fear of reprisals on the part of the Tax Authority,” AsiaNews said it was not yet clear whether the move reflected the actions of a single functionary or signaled a radical change of policy.
The fiscal status of the Church is presently being negotiated between the Holy See and Israel.
Responding to the report of the seizures, apostolic nuncio to Israel Archbishop Antonio Franco said the information was based on a notification that was “nothing exceptional” but only a regular reminder.