Carabinieri made to kneel by settler and threatened with a machine gun, Tajani summons the Israeli ambassador | EUROtoday

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The Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani requested to convene the ambassador of Israel in Italy to ask for clarification and make sure the tough protest concerning the episode that concerned yesterday two policemen serving on the Consulate General of Italy in Jerusalem. The Farnesina communicates this. The two troopers have been blocked in close by Palestinian territory Ramallahmost likely by a “settler” and made to kneel below the specter of a machine gun. The Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv has already addressed a proper protest to the Israeli Government, addressing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, COGAT, the IDF General Staff, the police and the Shin Bet (the Israeli safety service accountable for the Palestinian Territories).

The Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv – we learn in a notice from the Farnesina – has addressed a “verbal note” of formal protest to the Israeli Government over the episode. At the disposal of Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, the Italian ambassador in Tel Aviv is submitting protests with varied Israeli administrations, asserting direct interventions by the Italian political authority.

Inspection for a mission of EU ambassadors

The two troopers – explains the Farnesina – have been yesterday on an inspection go to to organize a mission of the EU ambassadors to a village close to Ramallah, within the territory of the Palestinian National Authority (West Bank, ed.). The troopers have been threatened by an armed man in civilian garments, presumably an Israeli settler, who pointed a rifle at them. The troopers (passports and diplomatic playing cards, automobiles with diplomatic plates) have been “interrogated” by the civilian; following the principles of engagement obtained, they prevented responding with violence to the preliminary threats.

The man handed them to an unidentified particular person on the telephone who stated the 2 have been inside a army space and wanted to depart. A test with Cogat (Israeli army command for the Occupied Palestinian Territories) confirmed that there isn’t a army space at that time. The Carabinieri army personnel returned to the Consulate unhurt and reported the occasions that had occurred to the Embassy and the Army chain of command.