Meloni: Involve US and G7 on Ukraine. Tajani Slams Ben Gvir
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani condemned Israeli Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir's remarks as unacceptable and announced Rome plans to coordinate with European partners on sanctions.
Speaking during a joint hearing before the Italian Chamber and Senate committees, Tajani and Defense Minister Guido Crosetto addressed Italy’s international missions and key crisis zones spanning Iran, Lebanon, Israel and Ukraine, according to Il Giornale.
The diplomatic spat erupted after Ben Gvir was placed under investigation by Rome prosecutors on charges of kidnapping and torture related to his treatment of activists aboard the Gaza Flotilla. The Israeli minister responded by claiming Italy had transformed from “the Country of the Boot” into “the Country of Slippers.”
Tajani fired back sharply, stating the comments demonstrate Ben Gvir’s political and moral caliber. Italy remains a friend to Israel, the foreign minister emphasized, but such remarks cannot stand unchallenged.
Rome now plans to coordinate with European partners in coming days to achieve consensus on sanctioning the Israeli minister, Tajani revealed. The Italian government is also prepared to evaluate measures targeting products originating from illegal settlements in the West Bank, a position shared with Britain, France and Germany, he added.
Nuclear Threat Returns to European Consciousness
Both ministers characterized the international security landscape as “extremely degraded” and rapidly evolving, with crisis hotspots deeply interconnected. Crosetto warned that the atomic threat, once relegated to history books, has become current once more.
Meloni Not Excluded From Peace Talks, Ministers Insist
Tajani and Crosetto rejected suggestions that Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni had been sidelined from the London summit between France, Germany and Britain on Ukraine. The E3 format has always existed and Italy does not determine these configurations, Tajani explained, noting Rome is similarly outside the E4 format on Iran’s nuclear program.
Italy supports expanding the format to include five nations with Poland, he added. Crosetto compared the situation to selecting a national sports team, noting conveners decide participants and Italy’s position aligns with the E3 stance regardless.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk contradicted that narrative, however, revealing in a press conference that he spoke with Meloni, who expressed clear dissatisfaction with the London format. Tusk announced an E5 meeting on Ukraine would take place in coming days.
A leaked draft resolution from the Italian governing majority ahead of parliamentary communications scheduled for tomorrow shows Rome insisting peace initiatives for Ukraine proceed in coordination with the United States, NATO and G7 partners.
With information from Il Giornale
