Italy has suspended its defence settlement with Israel, which includes the trade of army tools and know-how analysis, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and diplomatic sources mentioned Tuesday.
“In view of the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defence agreement with Israel,” Meloni mentioned on the sidelines of an occasion in Verona, in keeping with Italian information businesses ANSA and AGI.
An Italian diplomatic supply confirmed to AFP that the settlement had been suspended, saying: “It would have been politically difficult to keep it going.”
Approved by Israel in 2006, the settlement is reviewed each 5 years.
It requires cooperation throughout defence industries, schooling and coaching of army personnel, analysis and growth and knowledge know-how, amongst others.
Tensions between the 2 international locations have risen over the previous week after the Italian authorities accused Israeli forces of firing warning pictures at a convoy of Italian UN peacekeepers in Lebanon.
Italy summoned Israel’s ambassador in protest over the incident that broken a minimum of one car however brought about no accidents.
On Monday, Israel summoned Italy’s ambassador following feedback by Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani that condemned “unacceptable attacks” on Lebanese civilians by Israeli forces.
Tajani, who’s deputy prime minister, was in Beirut Monday for talks with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Foreign Minister Youssef Raggi.
He later wrote on X that he was there to “convey Italy’s solidarity following Israel’s unacceptable attacks against the civilian population”.
(FRANCE 24 with AFP)
https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20260414-italy-suspends-defence-agreement-with-israel-as-lebanon-attacks-stoke-tensions