"I have no words to comment on what Ben Gvir said about Italy, after learning he was under investigation by the Public Prosecutor's Office. These are unacceptable words that we reject; they are unworthy of a minister." Antonio Tajani has once again lashed out in no uncertain terms against the far-right Israeli minister, with whom he is now in open conflict. He did so during briefings to the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committees of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate to review international missions. At the same time, six Western countries—France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Norway—were tightening their sanctions on violent settlers and those pushing illegal settlement policies in the West Bank: first and foremost, Minister Bezalel Smotrich, against whom Paris has issued a travel ban.
Meanwhile, London has called on British companies not to do business with the settlements. "Shameful measures," the Israeli Foreign Ministry thundered in response, branding the measures an "attempt to impose a political position regarding the right of Jews to live in the Land of Israel." For his part, Tajani assured the hearing that "illegal settlements in the West Bank and settler violence are unacceptable" and that "Italy was among the countries that supported the measures against violent settlers adopted at the Foreign Affairs Council on May 11 from the outset." And regarding Ben Gvir's comments, "Italy is a friend of Israel that has always defended freedom and democracy. We reject any insult or attempt to denigrate it." Ben Gvir's words demonstrate the political and moral level of this gentleman", he insisted, after Netanyahu's minister criticized Italy by calling it a "country of the boot that has become the country of slippers".
The Deputy Prime Minister then promised that the battle in Brussels for European sanctions against the Israeli politician will not end: "We will see in the coming days whether it will be possible to reach a consensus in Europe, but I want to reassure this chamber that we will continue to push for this goal. " According to the Foreign Ministry head, "many countries have welcomed our proposal" given the "unacceptable actions against the Global Sumud Flotilla activists." And specifically on the subject of the humanitarian mission to Gaza, the minister assured that the government has been "closely monitoring from the outset" the situation of the two Italian citizens detained in Benghazi. "I have instructed our diplomatic representatives in Libya to increase pressure on all local interlocutors for their rapid release. Discussions are underway that have already led to an improvement in their detention conditions." The minister explained that "the charges against them have not yet been formalized," while developments are awaited in a new hearing before the Libyan prosecutor, scheduled for the final day. Addressing deputies and senators, Tajani then reiterated his concerns about the escalation in the Gulf.
And also in Lebanon, where, he reiterated, "we are analyzing the situation to better address security needs" at the end of UNIFIL's mandate at the end of the year. On this issue, Crosetto reported that he "asked Generals Abagnara and Portolano to prepare a technical report on the issues and how we could address the future: we sent it as Italy's contribution to the United Nations so that we can lay the foundation for a future 'UNIFIL 2,' or whatever it will be." On Ukraine, Tajani reiterated that Kiev's future lies in the EU, but "without creating unequal treatment" with the Balkans. And again rejecting the opposition's criticism of Italy's absence from the London summit, the minister confirmed that Italy's commitment continues—including €40 million for energy infrastructure—while a peace agreement between Kiev and Moscow remains "very distant." A diplomatic stalemate continues, while, according to estimates cited by Crosetto, the conflict "could approach two million dead and wounded by the end of the year." And even more worrying, a "current nuclear threat" remains over Europe.
(Unioneonline)