Politics
Italy: Napolitano appeals to Israel for peace with Palestinians
Rome, 2 Nov. (AKI) - Italian president Giorgio Napolitano on Monday appealed to Israel to reach a peace agreement with the Palestinians. He made the remarks a day after US secretary of state Hillary Clinton said explansion of Jewish settlements in the Palestinian West Bank should not be a precondition for resuming peace negotiations.
"The great challenge that Israel must still overcome is the challenge of peace," said Italy's head of state Giorgio Napolitano on Monday.
He was speaking during a reception of the international Jewish organisation Keren Hayesod at the presidential palace in Rome. The city's chief rabbi, Riccardo Pacifici, also attended the reception.
According to Napolitano peace is "the only long-lasting guarantee (for Israel) to continue to grow and prosper within safe borders and with the most widespread international recognition."
"Israel will always be able to count on Italy's support on the difficult road to peace, with the wholehearted support of Italy, shared by both the parliament and public opinion, encouraged by feelings of genuine sympathy and solidarity towards Israel."
The president also emphasised the importance of valid criticism of Israel, but not the existence of the Jewish state.
Meanwhile, Clinton's remarks over the weekend about Israel's peace with the Palestinians provoked a strong reaction in the Middle East.
Clinton said that there had "never been a precondition", in a shift from earlier US demands for a settlement freeze.
The secretary of state of the Arab League expressed his disappointment at Clinton's remarks.
"I am telling you that all of us, including Saudi Arabia, including Egypt, are deeply disappointed ... with the results, with the fact that Israel can get away with anything without any firm stand that this cannot be done," said the secretary of the Arab League Amr Moussa on Monday.
The first Jewish settlements - considered illegal under international law are a major issue dividing Israelis and Palestinians.
They were erected after the war inside the so-called Green Line, demarcating a border between the West Bank and Israel following the 1967 Six-Day War.
Israel's construction of illegal settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem has increased distrust of Israel's intentions among Palestinian negotiators.
The US administration led by president Barack Obama considers a halt to settlement expansion a key element of a future peace accord between Israelis and Palestinians. A move reversed by Clinton's latest remarks.
Israeli rights group, Peace Now, said in a report earlier this year that at least 285,000 settlers live east of the 1967 Green Line that separates Israel from the West Bank.
The figures exclude East Jerusalem settlers which number over 191,000.
East Jerusalem is the city Palestinians want as the capital of their future state.
"The great challenge that Israel must still overcome is the challenge of peace," said Italy's head of state Giorgio Napolitano on Monday.
He was speaking during a reception of the international Jewish organisation Keren Hayesod at the presidential palace in Rome. The city's chief rabbi, Riccardo Pacifici, also attended the reception.
According to Napolitano peace is "the only long-lasting guarantee (for Israel) to continue to grow and prosper within safe borders and with the most widespread international recognition."
"Israel will always be able to count on Italy's support on the difficult road to peace, with the wholehearted support of Italy, shared by both the parliament and public opinion, encouraged by feelings of genuine sympathy and solidarity towards Israel."
The president also emphasised the importance of valid criticism of Israel, but not the existence of the Jewish state.
Meanwhile, Clinton's remarks over the weekend about Israel's peace with the Palestinians provoked a strong reaction in the Middle East.
Clinton said that there had "never been a precondition", in a shift from earlier US demands for a settlement freeze.
The secretary of state of the Arab League expressed his disappointment at Clinton's remarks.
"I am telling you that all of us, including Saudi Arabia, including Egypt, are deeply disappointed ... with the results, with the fact that Israel can get away with anything without any firm stand that this cannot be done," said the secretary of the Arab League Amr Moussa on Monday.
The first Jewish settlements - considered illegal under international law are a major issue dividing Israelis and Palestinians.
They were erected after the war inside the so-called Green Line, demarcating a border between the West Bank and Israel following the 1967 Six-Day War.
Israel's construction of illegal settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem has increased distrust of Israel's intentions among Palestinian negotiators.
The US administration led by president Barack Obama considers a halt to settlement expansion a key element of a future peace accord between Israelis and Palestinians. A move reversed by Clinton's latest remarks.
Israeli rights group, Peace Now, said in a report earlier this year that at least 285,000 settlers live east of the 1967 Green Line that separates Israel from the West Bank.
The figures exclude East Jerusalem settlers which number over 191,000.
East Jerusalem is the city Palestinians want as the capital of their future state.
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