NEWS “Italy Will Reject Any Attempt to Delegitimize Israel”
By Rossella Tercatin
During his visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories, Italian foreign minister Paolo Gentiloni assured that Italy will never support or join the efforts to delegitimize Israel.
“Italy rejects every attempt of delegitimization of Israel, including every attempt of delegitimizing Israel through the international arena,” Gentiloni said speaking in a joint press conference together with Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“We want to strengthen the relations between out countries, that are based on the common understanding that this is a complex area,” stressed Netanyahu.
Over the course of the visit, Gentiloni also met with deputy foreign minister Tzipi Hotovely, the interior minister Silvan Shalom and the president of Israel Reuven Rivlin.
Accompanied by Italian ambassador Francesco Maria Talò, the foreign minister also visited Yad Vashem and the Italian synagogue and museum in Jerusalem.
“Italy and Israel share a cultural and historical heritage, the same democratic values, the Mediterranean landscape, and the love for culture. Israel enjoys the presence of a small but vibrant Italian community that serves as a symbolic bridge between the two countries,” said Angelo Piattelli, the president of the Hevrat Yehude Italia, which is the organization representing Italians in Israel.
Before the end of the month, Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi will also visit Israel.