"If Israel wants Italy’s support in Europe it has to demonstrate friendship and take tolerable positions", says Italian foreign minister Franco Frattini on the eve of the arrival in Rome of his Israeli counterpart Avigdor Liberman.
Israel must demonstrate its intention to promote the peace process, adopt the decisions of the Quartet, contribute to peace in the region and facilitate dialogue with Syria", Frattini specifies."It is no secret that not all European states support Israel, nor do all feel the same sense of friendship with her that we do. If Jerusalem wishes us to work on her behalf in Europe she must allow us to be her top partner"
The Italian Minister for Foreign Affairs will ask Liberman to “lower the tone of his statements and work toward creating a climate of collaboration". "A constructive climate is indispensable", he stresses.
Frattini has been monitoring relations between Israel and Egypt over recent weeks. "The fact that the foreign minister of a state that has a peace treaty with Egypt is not able to visit Cairo is undeniably problematic, both for Israel and for Egypt. Liberman and Netanyahu will have to find a way to overcome this obstacle".
According to Frattini, "this is the first time that Europe and the United States have viewed the peace process in the same way, which must go forward on the basis of the two states-two peoples principle and condemnation of terrorism and of anyone that does not recognize the State of Israel’s right to exist". He adds that, "Netanyahu’s pragmatism, in this case, must prevail".
Frarttini returned encouraged from a visit to Damascus a few weeks ago. "President Assad explained that the Syrians were ready to negotiate without preconditions", Frattini says. "Mediators will therefore be needed. If Turkey feels capable of taking on such a role – be my guest! But if problems emerge, Italy has already made its willingness to mediate clear".