Tajani: “Time for peace with all Arab countries. Europe must help stabilise Gaza”

This morning, 24 hours after the ceasefire, Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani will fly to Israel and then make a stop in Palestine. He will meet his counterpart Gideon Sa'ar, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, and will meet with the Palestinian Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mohammed Mustafa, to "encourage and support them, because today the truce is still fragile". And in this fragility, Tajani argues that there is a fear that "the enemies of peace, opposed to stabilisation, will carry out provocations, and that Hamas will break the agreement", just as he looks with apprehension, on the other hand, at the possible muscular reactions of Israel, "always ready to defend its territory". But there is also room for hope: "We are at the dawn of a possible peace that could involve the entire region".

What proposal will come from the Italian government?

"Now the long and complex diplomatic work to strengthen the truce begins. The next six weeks will be the key to laying the foundations for the transition from the first to the second phase of the ceasefire. The release of the first three young Israeli women is positive, but now the release of the Israeli hostages must continue and, at the same time, aid must reach the Palestinian population."

And once the truce is stabilised?

"It will be possible to give new impetus to the Abraham Accords, which sought to normalise the relations of Arab countries with Israel. That path almost reached its goal, but it was interrupted with the attack of 7 October. Now we have to tie up the loose threads again."

Are there the conditions for recognising the State of Palestine?

"First it is necessary to reunify it."

Should Israeli settlers therefore abandon the occupied lands?

"I think they need to take a few steps back, there has been too much violence and it is the cause of instability."

Can the UN play a role in this phase? "I think it would be a good idea to have an interposition mission promoted by an international body like the UN. As long as it is Arab-led. It can help consolidate peace and strengthen the Palestinian Authority."

And would Italy take part in the mission? "We are still in an embryonic phase, but we would be ready to participate with a contingent. In general, what is needed is a European presence in the Middle East. And in Palestine, Europe will be able to play a role, if there is an agreement acceptable to both parties."

Does Italy have the goal of recognising Palestine?

Yes, our road leads there, but it will take time because Palestine must also be recognised by Israel and in turn, it must recognise Israel. The unilateral initiatives that I have seen so far by some countries serve neither Palestine nor peace."

There is also Lebanon, which is now going through a new phase. Is Italy a candidate to lead the UNIFIL mission?

"We've proposed General Diodato Abagnara. An officer of the highest level and it has already been discussed with the Israeli and Lebanese authorities. On their part, it seems to me that he is to their liking. In Lebanon, and perhaps also in Syria, it seems to me that the right path has been taken for a stabilisation of the area, which is another primary objective for the commercial interests of a nation like ours, dedicated to manufacturing and exports."

For Europe, the open front in Ukraine remains. Are you among those who look to Donald Trump for a quick and positive end to the conflict?

"Trump will work to build peace, but the problem will not be solved overnight, so much so that he has reiterated US support for Kyiv. However, I am convinced that this is the right year to reach a ceasefire in Ukraine as well."

Today in Washington, at Trump's inauguration ceremony, there will be Giorgia Meloni and, like her, various delegations of the European extreme right, sovereigntist and nationalist. Ursula von der Leyen, on the other hand, was not invited. Is this a signal that should be cause for worry for the EU?

"Those delegations will go, as is normal, and von der Leyen's absence is a matter of a ceremonial event, let's not exaggerate the facts. Europe and the United States are two sides of the same coin, the West, and they are inseparable. The US knows that it has to interface with the EU and it is a mutual awareness, whoever sits in the White House."

So Europe has nothing to fear from Trump?

"Europe must continue on its path and accelerate on many issues, such as common defence, the banking union, tax harmonisation. We said it with Biden and we will repeat it with Trump."

In Washington there will be all of Elon Musk's "favourite" right-wing parties. What do you think of the billionaire and Trump's right-hand man?

"I neither like him nor dislike him. For now he is only an entrepreneur and therefore, as a private subject, it is normal for him to think about his own business."

Even if your business is with governments like the Italian one, for the Starlink satellite system?

"It's a question of the market, I believe in not giving privileges to anyone. The security of Italian data must be guaranteed, of course. And if that transmission system is useful and safe, why shouldn't Italy take it into consideration? This is the question. The technical aspects, then, must be dealt with by the experts."

Giving the communications system into the hands of a private individual can be dangerous. Musk decided to turn off the satellites used by Ukraine, when Kyiv wanted to attack Russia.

"If you make a contract there are clauses. I am pragmatic. Musk does not operate as a minister in Italy, he is an entrepreneur and if he can provide useful services to Italy, we can discuss it."

Upon returning from the US, Meloni will have to resolve the issue of Minister Santanchè's indictment. If she betrays the guarantor spirit of the center-right by making her resign, would it be a problem?

"We are responsible for our own positions. For Forza Italia she is innocent until the third degree of judgement, but Meloni will have to decide on Santanchè. It doesn't depend on us."

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.