Rome’s Leonardo da Vinci International Airport has canceled a contract with Israel’s defense contractor Rafael to run its anti-drone shield following a court ruling, the Italian outlet Il Messaggero reports.
The contract, inked in 2022, will be handed over to an Italian contractor, the report says.
The contract was invalidated because government technicians determined that the system in place was a military as opposed to a civilian system, and that it therefore was missing permits. Rome’s airport authority defended the system’s use, according to the report, saying it is in place in other locations in Europe.
The cancellation is the latest setback for Italian-Israeli ties. In April, Italy ended its defense agreement with Israel. In May, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni expressed outrage at a video posted by National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir showing him taunting pro-Palestinian flotilla activists, including Italians.
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Friday, August 7, 2026
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