Since the new governments in Italy and Israel were elected, it seems that the two countries have had warm relations, including economic cooperation, culminating – at least in Israel – a long-awaited diplomatic gesture: moving the Italian embassy to Jerusalem.
Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana's visit to the Italian parliament reached its peak yesterday when for the first time both houses of the Italian parliament marked Israel's independence. And the Foreign Ministry is currently working on inviting Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Israel.
Ohana said at the event that "Israel's independence is not something to be taken for granted. We struggle daily against enemies who seek to destroy us. Italy is a true friend of Israel and we need its continued assistance in this struggle."
Minister Akunis, Photo: Benny Pleven
In addition to Ohana's visit, last Friday Science Minister Akunis landed in Israel after meeting in the country with his counterpart and with five heads of innovation centers working with it. This comes after Italy received billions of euros from the European Union for research, and Israel expects collaborations between researchers that will bring some of these investments to Israel. Next month, the minister will come here to continue the talks between the two. In March, the Italian foreign minister arrived in Israel for a meeting with Minister Eli Cohen, and a few days later Netanyahu landed in the country for a visit as part of his European trip.
From the moment Meloni won the elections and the official Israeli government (headed by Lapid) ignored the new prime minister and only congratulated the country on the end of the campaign and its local elections, until now, there has been a dramatic change in Israel's attitude toward Italy. From distancing herself from Meloni's right-wing party to the warm embrace she receives from Netanyahu and the other members of the government. Netanyahu, by the way, was quick to congratulate her on her winning a name and a kingdom,which may have also opened the door to warming relations.
Israel's Interests
Akunis told Israel Hayom that "the relationship between Italy and Israel is at an all-time high, both on the political level and on the level of professional cooperation. The desire to strengthen ties was expressed in the series of meetings I held here, mainly with Minister Benigni and with the heads of the universities and the large research institutes in Italy."
The first to outline relations with Meloni and her party, Fratelli D'Italia, was Eli Vered Hazan, director of the Likud's external relations division, back in February 2019. Vered Hazan signed her joining the ECR party in the European Parliament. Immediately after she joined, she became president of the party, and Ward Hazan exposed her to the interests of the State of Israel.
At the mercy of Germany and France
During Netanyahu's visit to Italy last March, Meloni asked Meloni to consider moving the embassy to Jerusalem. Israel Hayom has learned that senior Italian government officials have told Israeli officials that they are considering the request positively. However, according to estimates, this may end with the opening of the so-called "Representative of Interests," that is, a lower-level bureau similar to what the Hungarians did in Jerusalem.
The reason for this is not precisely the Italian will, but their status in the European Union. The Italian government, which wants to be accepted by the EU, is at the mercy of Germany and France, which oppose Israel's request. A G2G meeting will be held in Jerusalem in October, and political sources in Israel hope that by that meeting, Meloni will arrive in Israel with news.
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