Meloni’s moves against the US and Israel are damaging Italy’s interests |
This year’s Day of Holocaust Remembrance (Yom HaShoah) was marked by the unfortunate decision of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to announce the suspension of the automatic renewal of the defense memorandum with Israel, as reported by Meloni herself on the sidelines of the Vinitaly wine fair in Verona. The reason for such a decision? The “ongoing situation in the Middle East.”
The move immediately sparked mixed reactions, with the pro-Palestinian left, Islamists, and even the historically anti-Semitic and anti-American far right celebrating the news, while many right-wing voters with Atlanticist and pro-Israeli positions expressed concern and opposition to the decision (including many Meloni voters who expressed disappointment on social media).
Meloni’s decision was also praised by Hamas, which called it: “A step in the right direction” amid the ongoing attacks in Gaza and escalating regional tensions. As reported by the website Palinfo: “In a press release on Wednesday, Hamas said the move represents an important development that could help deter what it described as Israel’s continued violations of international law and human rights in Gaza, the West Bank, and Lebanon. The Movement urged Italy and other countries to expand international isolation measures, including halting military cooperation and withdrawing political support.”
The agreement, which outlines a framework for defense cooperation, including the exchange of military equipment and technological research between the armed forces, was originally set to be renewed every five years. It entered into force on April 13, 2016.
However, it is essential to clarify certain aspects to provide a clearer overview of the matter, highlighting several key factors. Firstly, it is a memorandum, not a defense agreement, between the two countries.
As the Israeli Foreign Ministry explained, there is no such thing as a “defense agreement” between........