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Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced Tuesday that her government is halting a defense cooperation agreement with Israel, highlighting strained relations amid ongoing Middle Eastern conflicts.
Although Meloni’s conservative government has traditionally been supportive of Israel within Europe, recent weeks have seen criticism of Israel’s strikes on Lebanon, which resulted in numerous casualties and injuries.
Last week, Israeli forces fired warning shots at Italian personnel serving in Lebanon under a United Nations mandate, damaging a vehicle in the process.
“Given the current climate, the government has decided to pause the renewal of the defense treaty with Israel,” Meloni stated during a visit to Verona in northern Italy.
Sources close to the decision, speaking anonymously, revealed that Meloni made the call on Monday after consultations with her foreign and defense ministers, Antonio Tajani and Guido Crosetto, along with Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini.
The Israeli foreign ministry declined to comment.
Opposition parties had previously been urging the government to suspend the agreement, making the announcement a notable departure from Meloni’s earlier cautious approach toward Israel. Elly Schlein, leader of Italy’s center-left Democratic Party, said, “We’ve been pushing for this for some time, alongside other progressive groups.” She also suggested Italy should support suspending the European Union-Israel Association Agreement.
This memorandum, originally signed in 2003 by former Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and enacted in 2006, provides for ongoing automatic five-year renewals unless explicitly canceled by either side. It seeks to enhance Italian-Israeli defense capabilities through collaboration in procurement, training, and the import, export, and transit of military equipment.
Amid rising diplomatic tensions, Rome summoned the Israeli ambassador last week to protest the Lebanon incident involving Italian troops. On Monday, Israel’s government summoned Italy’s ambassador in turn to discuss the ongoing situation.
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