In a new gesture of distancing Israel —apparently more of a political nature than anything else—the Prime Minister of Italy, Giorgia Meloniannounced this Tuesday the suspension of “automatic” renewal of a memorandum of collaboration regarding Defense with the Hebrew country. However, the operational scope of the measure is, for now, unknown. So much so that the Israeli media ‘Ynet’, citing sources from its country, has downplayed the matter, ensuring that the decision lacks “practical meaning.”
“In consideration of the current situation, the Government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the Defense agreement with Israel,” said the Italian leader from the Vinitaly wine forum in Verona. However, Meloni He did not offer further details. on the implementation of the measure on this agreement, which entered into force on April 13, 2016 and, since then, has been renewed every five years.
No real content
So much for the known news. In fact, even asked, presidential sources of the Council of Ministers and the Ministry of Defense they have avoided clarifying to this newspaper if the decision affects the current period or will be implemented after the next five years. According to ‘Ynet’, Furthermore, the agreement does not have “real content”which calls into question the strategic significance of the announcement.
The truth is that Meloni and his ministers have gone intensifying his criticism of Israelespecially due to the bombings on the Lebanon and the attacks on the United Nations peacekeeping mission in that country (UNIFIL).
Rome’s decision also comes one day after the Israeli authorities summoned the Italian ambassador in Tel Aviv. The diplomatic protest occurred after the Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajaniwould qualify as “unacceptable” the bombings on the Lebanese civilian population.
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