by InTrieste
Italy’s foreign minister and deputy prime minister Antonio Tajani ignited a domestic political debate on Friday after rejecting calls for Rome to follow France and other European nations in formally recognizing a Palestinian state.
Speaking at a national council meeting of his center-right Forza Italia party, Tajani emphasized Italy’s close ties with Israel while urging all parties to pursue peace. “We are friends of Israel,” he said, “but we can no longer accept slaughter and famine.” He called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza and pressed for the release of Israeli hostages held by Hamas.
The comments come after French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France will formally recognize a Palestinian state in September. France joins a growing number of European countries, including Spain, Norway, and Ireland, that have made similar pledges in recent months amid mounting international concern over the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Tajani, who serves in the right-wing government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, reaffirmed Italy’s support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. However, he argued that any recognition of Palestinian statehood must be reciprocal.
“Italy is in favour of the two-peoples, two-states solution,” Tajani said. “But the recognition of the new Palestinian state must occur at the same time as their recognition of the state of Israel.”
Palestinian representatives have maintained that they already recognized Israel in 1993 as part of the Oslo Accords, which established a framework for peace negotiations. However, successive attempts to achieve a lasting resolution have faltered, and the issue of mutual recognition remains contentious.
Tajani’s remarks drew swift criticism from opposition leaders, who urged the Italian government to align itself with its European counterparts. Some accused the foreign minister of taking an overly cautious stance that risks isolating Italy diplomatically at a time of escalating regional tensions.
The debate over Palestinian statehood has resurfaced in European capitals as the war in Gaza continues into its tenth month, with rising civilian casualties and deteriorating humanitarian conditions intensifying calls for international intervention and a renewed push for peace.
