Italy Open to Considering EU Sanctions on Israel, Says Foreign Minister Tajani

Rome: Italy is ready to consider the sanctions on Israel proposed by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen in her state of the union speech, Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced on Thursday. Tajani conveyed this stance during a session in the Senate, highlighting Italy’s openness to evaluating new sanction proposals as soon as they are presented in the Council.

According to Ansa News Agency, Tajani also mentioned Italy’s collaboration with Germany in proposing tough new sanctions on violent Israeli settlers during a recent meeting of EU foreign ministers in Copenhagen. He emphasized Italy’s willingness to tighten restrictive measures against those who assault Palestinian villages, even affecting Christian communities. Tajani expressed deep concern over the situation in the Strip, describing it as an unacceptable issue that remains an open wound for the international community.

Tajani reiterated Italy’s firm opposition to the Israeli plan to occupy Gaza City and any notion of forcibly transferring Palestinians from the Strip. Despite this, he clarified that Rome was not yet ready to recognize the state of Palestine, emphasizing the need for concrete and operational work towards the establishment of a true Palestinian state. The aim, he stated, is to create conditions conducive to a two-state solution.

He stressed that recognizing a state without first establishing the necessary conditions would not yield any positive outcomes, but rather hinder peace efforts. Tajani concluded by affirming Italy’s support for the creation of a Palestinian state that would enable its people to live safely in their own home.