Netanyahu in Rome, Forum with Urso and lunch with Meloni

Israeli premier Benjamin Netanyahu participated this morning in an Economic Forum at Palazzo Piacentini with Italian companies (from Eni to Leonardo, from Fincantieri to Ita and Fs) in the presence of the Minister of Economic Development and Made in Italy Adolfo Urso. Between 13.30 and 14.30 there will be an official state lunch at Palazzo Chigi and face-to-face with Prime Minister Meloni, with whom will look for a bank to stem Iran and its race towards nuclear weapons. “We must try not to be crushed by this power,” she confirmed. The visit of the Likud leader will then focus on the economic and energy dossiers: Netanyahu seeks in particular a natural gas deal became, after the cut of Russian supplies, one of the leitmotifs of international relations. In a long interview with Repubblica on Thursday he said: “I would like to see more economic collaboration. We have a lot of natural gas and I would like to discuss how to get it to Italy”. Italy aspires and must become a hub for European gas, Minister Urso confirmed this morning at the Forum. “And Israel must be an element of strength, for hydrogen and green technologies”. Not just energy, though. Netanyahu has made it known that he wants to convince the Italian government to recognize Jerusalem as the capital of Israela hypothesis that Ruth Dureghello, number one in the Rome community, agrees with.

In fact, yesterday the Israeli premier with his wife Sarah was received at the Spanish Temple in Rome by Dureghello, by the president of the Italian Jewish communities Noemi Di Segni and by the chief rabbi of the capital Riccardo Di Segni. “Here in the community of Rome we are all brothers. Just taking into account the differences in Israel I want to remind you that we are one people”, he said, responding to those – like Noemi Di Segni – who reveal fears about the perception, even internationally, of Israeli democracy due to the disputed justice reform proposed by the premier. Netanyahu then responded remotely to the appeal of President Isaac Herzog who hopes for an agreement with the opposition to modify the reform which “as it stands must disappear”. The prime minister limited himself to saying he was in favor of “all initiatives” that could lead to an agreement.

The visit of the Israeli prime minister was marked, right from the early hours of yesterday, by a terrorist attack in Tel Aviv. A Palestinian man opened fire in the city center. The bomber injured 3 people, at least two of whom were seriously injured, and was then killed by the security agents on the spot. “I am shocked by the umpteenth news of violence against Israeli civilians,” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni wrote on Twitter. “Italy stands by Israel in the face of the terrorist attack that took place yesterday in Tel Aviv. I express my solidarity and that of the Italian Government to Premier @netanyahu, who has recently arrived in Rome”.

The last time Netanyahu was in Rome for a state visit was in June 2016, to meet then Prime Minister Matteo Renzi.