The Council of Holy Sites of the Chief Rabbinate issued a statement Wednesday saying that it was forbidden for Israel to transfer authority of sites in Israel to the Vatican. The Vatican has requested that six sites of a religious nature be transferred to its authority in advance of the Pope’s visit to Israel next week.

The Council’s statement read: “According to Jewish Law, it is forbidden for any person to give a part of the Land of Israel to the Vatican. Therefore we call on the Prime Minister, Ministers, and Members of Knesset to immediately cease discussions of this nature.”