Like everyone else, Antonio Tajani has seen the photos of the children in Gaza.
“Unacceptable, unacceptable…” the Minister of Foreign Affairs repeats several times. “Unacceptable,” he had also said following the Israeli raid that struck the parish of Father Gabriel Romanelli. This is a deeply felt awareness of the ongoing tragedy, which the Deputy Prime Minister insists must coexist with his responsibilities as a government official. “If there were anything we could do to stop Netanyahu, we would already have done it. At present, he is not listening — not to us, not to Macron, not even to Washington. But let’s be clear: after 7 October, after the pogrom, after the horrors I myself witnessed up close, the Jewish people may be divided, but a large part of them supports the government’s campaign against Hamas. That said, we believe the only way for peace between Israel and Palestine to prevail is to stop the war and return to politics and diplomacy”.
Minister, then — are we condemned to be powerless bystanders?
“Absolutely not, there is no resignation. Our position has been firm for months, and we repeat it: Israel’s reaction is disproportionate. Tel Aviv has won the war — there is no reason to continue bombings that kill civilians. We must persuade them to stop. And we are doing everything possible. I’ve just received a sign of openness: Israeli Foreign Minister Sa’ar called me to say that the government in Jerusalem has decided to restore the electricity supply to a desalination plant that will once again provide water for 900,000 people. The fact that he informed me of this decision is a sign of respect and friendship. In return, I encouraged him, in friendship, to tell his government that they must go further. They must allow full access to food and medical aid. I hope that, in the coming hours, the World Food Programme and the Food for Gaza initiative will be able to resume operations. It is imperative that Israel respond to this humanitarian crisis with urgency”.
However, Italy stops short of recognising Palestine. Why?
“I have no wish to engage in controversy — not with the opposition and certainly not with our partner countries. And above all, I understand the dismay of public opinion, which is pushing for immediate solutions. I, too, feel this pain personally and convey it every day to the Israeli government and to Arab countries working for peace. But I would ask everyone to reflect on one point: after recent recognitions of Palestine by various governments, has anything changed? Netanyahu does not respond to pressure — this is the reality we must confront. Let’s consider the substance of what recognition entails: at present, Palestine comprises two separate entities — the West Bank and Gaza. There is no unified state yet. We want one to be established, a state that recognises Israel and is, in turn, recognised by Israel. And we are ready to deploy our own contingents as part of a UN mission led by Arab countries to help achieve this goal. We also firmly oppose — as does the entire international community — any prospect of a mass exodus of Palestinians. They must remain in their homeland, just as Palestinian Christians — essential voices of moderation and dialogue — must remain in the land they love”.
Italy is also criticised for maintaining defence cooperation with Israel.
“We halted military supplies as of 7 October 2023, in full compliance with Italian law. The Ministry of Defence has denied recent press claims. As for the memorandum, having it or not having it, as I’ve said before, makes no difference — it will not stop Netanyahu. We must start from this fact or risk getting lost in a war of slogans that will not bring peace any closer”.
So, going back to the first question: are we doomed to simply wait?
“No. The international community is working — a UN conference is scheduled in a few days. We must keep up the pressure on Israel and on Hamas. The latest round of negotiations failed because Hamas raised its demands regarding the exchange of Israeli hostages for prisoners held in Tel Aviv. It is unacceptable that Hamas — a terrorist organisation with no place in Palestine’s future — should exploit this bloodshed for political gain and use civilians as human shields”.
Were you uncomfortable seeing negotiations take place amid the luxury of the Costa Smeralda?
“I understand how it might appear, and I understand the criticism. But right now, as Foreign Minister, my only concern is that dialogue takes place — whether in a grand hotel or a cellar”.
A young woman, Intisar, has appealed through our newspaper to help bring her father to Italy. Will you take up the commitment?
“I have a duty to, just as I do with the hundreds of other requests received by the Italian Foreign Ministry. It is more difficult with adults, but where there is any possibility, we will not let it close”.
On the Russia–Ukraine front, you’ve always advised caution on hopes for imminent peace…
“I stand by my cautious assessment: Russia is in a war economy and would face social unrest if it tried to retreat. Right now, the weapon we have is to block financial flows, making it harder for Putin to pay his troops — to persuade the Kremlin that peace is the better option. But at the moment, Moscow is showing no encouraging signals”.
Given the situation in Gaza and the ongoing Russia–Ukraine conflict, is it fair to say Trump’s first six months have been a failure?
“Not at all. The United States remains a key player in the peace process, and we support and accompany their diplomatic efforts. I find it irresponsible when analysis is distorted by domestic political agendas during such a grave international crisis”.
Yet Trump doesn’t hesitate to put pressure on Europe through tariffs. What scenario is Italy preparing for?
“We’re hopeful about the upcoming meeting in Scotland between Trump and Von der Leyen. We believe uncertainty and trade wars are deeply harmful. That’s why we’re in favour of an agreement — provided it is sustainable, of course”.
Businesses are worried about the 15% minimum tax. Are countermeasures possible?
“We were in favour of ‘zero-for-zero’ — no tariffs between the EU and the US. But it’s clear now that this won’t happen. An agreement is close, and the government will take all necessary measures to accompany it. I believe the ECB should play a major role in countering the dollar’s devaluation. Frankfurt needs to lower interest rates — down from 2% to zero — and resume quantitative easing, as it did during the COVID crisis. At the same time, the EU must eliminate all internal tariffs”.
And the Italian government?
“In the last Council of Ministers, we took initial steps to support agriculture. We will support businesses, but before defining measures and sectors, we need to understand the outcome of the agreement with the US. Naturally, we are also working to open up exports to new markets, with the goal of reaching EUR 700 billion by 2027”.
Is it reasonable to hold out hope for Alberto Trentini, detained in Venezuela?
“We are closely following the case. We’ve recently received information indicating he is in good condition. But we are dealing with a regime that holds many political prisoners. There are 14 or 15 other Italians currently in their prisons”.
At such a sensitive time, how difficult is it for someone from the ‘Popolari’ tradition to share a coalition with figures like former General Vannacci?
“Foreign policy is determined by the Prime Minister and the sitting Foreign Minister. The views of individual MPs do not shape government policy.
Forza Italia is undergoing a transformation, particularly on matters of rights. What position will you take in Parliament on end-of-life legislation?
“There must be a national law — it cannot be left to the regions. The majority’s draft bill aligns with Constitutional Court rulings, which state that suicide is not a right. We will follow developments in Parliament closely, while respecting freedom of conscience”.
Will the Ius Italiae be brought to Parliament before the end of the legislature?
“Talking about the parliamentary floor now is premature. Our draft must not go forward only to be rejected — it must be a genuine opportunity for all. We will continue explaining to our allies that we must face reality. The numbers must come from within the centre-right. On this issue, our position is far from that of the PD and M5S”.
