Italian and Israeli officials are downplaying a reported rift in relations arising from the ascendancy of the neo-fascists in the Italian government.
Officials of the two countries stressed that the two states maintain warm links despite the inclusion of five members of the neo-fascist-led National Alliance in the Italian Cabinet.
“On the part of the Israeli government there is no coldness toward us, but friendship of which we are certain,” Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi told reporters this week.
He emphasized Italy’s “continuous relations with the Israeli ambassador in Rome, who is also an eminent personage close to the forces of the Israeli government.”
The Israeli ambassador to Italy, Avi Pazner, met this week with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Martino and explained to him the concerns raised in Israel by the inclusion of National Alliance ministers in the Italian government.
“The meeting was cordial, and both countries intend to continue to maintain very good relations,” Pazner said after the meeting Tuesday.
On Sunday, Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Yossi Beilin criticized Italy for including Cabinet ministers from the National Alliance, whose core party is the Italian Social Movement, which was founded after World War II by followers of fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.
In an interview Tuesday with the Turin daily La Stampa, Pazner said, “I do not believe that there are problems in the relations between our two countries. Rather, relations are very cordial.”
He added, “That which exists and cannot be hidden is the fact that in Israel a public debate has opened on the participation of the ministers from the National Alliance in the Italian government.”
Pazner added, “We also know well the feelings of Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi toward Israel. And we know well the position of the foreign minister and of many other ministers.
“Because of this, I affirm that one cannot speak of problems in the relations between our countries. Relations are warm, as Foreign Minister Shimon Peres has said himself.
“We need to make sure they remain so,” Pazner said.
Peres is scheduled to meet with Martino in Luxembourg next week during talks between Israel and the European Union.
In the face of the alarm raised in a number of countries over the inclusion of neo-fascists in the Italian Cabinet, Martino has launched a diplomatic offensive to reassure Italy’s allies.
At a recent meeting with American Jews, he said the new government would be the most pro-Israel that Italy ever had.
The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
