What will Israel's policy be with Maloney winning the Italian elections?
While the Lapid government ignores Italy's prime minister-designate Georgia Maloney, opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu spoke with Maloney a few days ago and congratulated her on her victory - this is what Israel Hayom learned from two sources briefed on the details.
Netanyahu's call came after the former Likud minister, Gila Gamliel, publicly congratulated Maloney and she replied that she intends to strengthen ties with Israel.
Gamaliel and Maloney met last year via Zoom as part of the joint activity in the "Alliance of Reformers and Conservatives - ECR", of which the Likud and Maloney's party are members.
Thank you @GilaGamliel for your words and your friendship.
Ready to strengthen our bilateral relations and our common work in the Conservative family.
Good luck for your upcoming elections!
🇮🇹🇮🇱
— Giorgia Meloni 🇮🇹 ن (@GiorgiaMeloni) September 29, 2022
Israel Hayom also learned that, contrary to the official position of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the European Division of the Ministry recommended congratulating Meloni on her victory.
Maloni, leader of the right-wing "Brothers of Italy" party, won 25 percent of the vote and will likely head the next government.
Contrary to the customary diplomatic codes, in official Israel the election results were ignored for a week.
Netanyahu.
Talked with Meloni and congratulated her, photo: Ohad Zweigenberg
torch.
Ignores the victory even the recommendations of the European Division, Photo: Amos Ben Gershom/Leam
Only this Sunday, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs published a reference to the results, even in which it unusually avoided congratulating the winner.
The official announcement stated that "Israel congratulates the people of Italy on the conclusion of the election campaign and looks forward to continued cooperation and friendship with the government that will be established and the Italian people, with an emphasis on the areas of the economy, energy, water, innovation and cyber - as well as in the joint fight against anti-Semitism and the preservation of the memory of the Holocaust. Italy is an important friend Israel's".
As mentioned, this position is contrary to the recommendation of the European Division that proposed to welcome Meloni.
It seems that the Lapid government is keeping a distance from Meloni following accusations in Europe that she is the leader of a "far-right" party.
The one who recommended to congratulate Maloney was the ambassador in Rome until recently, Dr. Dror Idar.
Idar had several meetings with Meloni and was impressed that she sympathized with Israel.
In interviews with the media, Idar rejected the accusations of fascism on Maloney's part and said that she should be judged by her actions.
"Israel Hayom" learned that Idar was very successful in his position and made excellent connections with the heads of government in Italy, his replacement, Ambassador Alon Bar, refused to hold an overlapping meeting with him.
The incoming ambassador Alon Bar rejected his proposals.
Outgoing ambassador Dr. Idar, photo: Oren Ben Hakon
The custom is that when ambassadors change, they hold an overlapping conversation in a third country.
In this conversation, they provide an update on what is happening in the country, point out key players and factors that should be contacted and recommend which policy to implement.
These talks are usually critical to the success of the new ambassador's role, but Barr rejected Eder's proposals.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated in response that "Ambassador Bar Keim has several conversations with his predecessor. There was no deviation from what is customary in such cases."
As for the position of the European Division to congratulate Maloney, the Foreign Ministry says that "the announcement issued by the Ministry was received in Italy as positive, and the attempts to present it otherwise are baseless."
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