by Eldad Beck
Italy mulls opening a permanent mission in Jerusalem in light of EU's ban on member-states relocating their embassies to the city, Italy's Deputy Foreign Minister Guglielmo Picchi says
Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs President Dore Gold with Italy's
Deputy Foreign Minister Guglielmo Picchi
Italy is considering opening a permanent
mission in Jerusalem in light of the European Union's refusal to allow
its member-states to relocate their embassies in Israel to the city.
According to Italian officials, the mission would focus on cultural issues in an effort to bolster bilateral ties.
Italian Deputy Foreign Minister Guglielmo
Picchi, who also serves as one of the heads of the right-wing Northern
League party, concluded his official visit to Israel on Wednesday with a
visit to the Jerusalem Center for Public Affairs, at the invitation of
its president Dr. Dore Gold and researcher and former Italian
parliamentarian Fiamma Nirenstein.
Picchi's visit in Israel was aimed at
laying the groundwork for a visit by Italian Interior Minister and
Northern League head Matteo Salvini.
In an interview with Israel Hayom, Picchi
said Europe's understanding of Israel and its positions had undergone
significant change as of late. He said the coming elections for the
European Parliament, set for May 2019, could also impact the European
Commission's approach toward Israel should the new right-wing parties
gain in strength.
"The European Union is a very complex body
with various sensitivities on the part of its member-states. Italy's job
is to ensure there is no bias in the union against Israel, ensure open
dialogue and candor with Israel and try and prevent the adoption of
negative resolutions on Israel," he said.
"My boss, Matteo Salvini, said this a few
times publicly. ... He wants to be Israel's guard dog and prevent
Europe's stance on Israel from having negative consequences.
Q: Is it easier today to defend Israel's position in the European Union than it has been in the past?
"The atmosphere has changed dramatically.
There is a different approach to Israel. Israel is a free country in the
Middle East. We must protect this freedom by all the means at our
disposal. We cannot allow 'liberal' groups and entities to harm Israeli
democracy. Today there is a much more positive approach to Israel."
Q: Will the EU be willing to invest
the aid funds it currently invests in UNRWA toward resolving the status
of Palestinians in refugee camps and making them citizens of their
countries of residence?
"Italy will push very hard to enable these things."
Q: Does that include the issue of recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital?
"It is not the concern of other countries
to decide what Israel's capital will be. The Italian government is not
yet in a position to adopt such a stance."
Eldad Beck
Source: http://www.israelhayom.com/2018/11/15/italian-deputy-fm-europes-attitude-toward-israel-improving-dramatically/
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