Italian PM in Jerusalem: No compromise on Israel’s security
Visiting Matteo Renzi defends concessions to Iran, but reassures Netanyahu that Jewish state won’t be put at risk
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Visiting Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi subtly defended the Iran deal Tuesday in Jerusalem, but said that it should not come at the expense of the safety of the Jewish state.
Renzi was on a whirlwind tour of the Holy Land, visiting Israeli leaders Tuesday and Wednesday before a scheduled stop in the West Bank town of Bethlehem to meet with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas.
“Israel’s security is Europe’s own security,” Renzi said, according to i24 news. “We think it is possible to make compromises regarding Iran’s future, but impossible to make compromises on Israel’s security.”
He made the comments in a joint press conference with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, following a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust museum.
Netanyahu for his part used the occasion to attack the Iran nuclear accord, saying that the deal poses a “grave threat” to the security of Israel and the Middle East.
Nonetheless, Netanyahu praised his counterpart for tackling anti-Semitism in Italy and for his vocal support of Israel’s right to live in peace and security.
“Europe and Israel are threatened by the very same forces. Italy and Israel cooperate in many ways to meet these challenges. We both want to see security, prosperity and peace in the Mediterranean region and beyond,” Netayahu said.
Renzi was due to attend a special session of the Knesset plenum on Wednesday.
The Times of Israel Community.