Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Antonio Tajani had a first telephone contact with the new Israeli Minister for Foreign Affairs Gideon Saar.
During the call, Minister Tajani first of all insisted on the need to guarantee the safety of the soldiers involved in the UN mission in Lebanon and stressed that the recent attacks against UN personnel and infrastructure were unacceptable, starting with the recent incident involving an unexploded artillery shell hitting the Italian UNIFIL base. Minister Saar guaranteed an immediate investigation into the incident. “Concerning Lebanon, I also told Saar of my fervent hope for the achievement of a ceasefire, emphasising the role that the UNIFIL mission could play in the full implementation of resolution 1701,” said the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Tajani then condemned in the strongest terms all forms of anti-Semitism, affirming that “We are all still shocked by the images of the unacceptable violence against Israeli fans in Amsterdam. I assured Minister Saar that the Italian Government is fully committed to combating all forms of hatred and anti-Semitism.”
The talks then focused on the security situation in the Middle East. Deputy Prime Minister Tajani thus reiterated “Italy’s unwavering support for Israel and its people following the barbaric attack launched on 7 October by Hamas and the continuous rocket attacks by Hezbollah”. The two Ministers then discussed the risks of a further escalation of violence in the region, particularly in the event of an intensification of the confrontation between Israel and Iran.
Regarding the prospects for peace, Tajani hoped that, in light of the death of Hamas leader Sinwar, an agreement to stop the violence in the Gaza Strip and free the hostages could be reached.
