Foreign minister Luigi Di Maio and lower house of parliament speaker Roberto Fico on Friday reiterated Italy's backing for a two-state solution to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians, the Palestinian Authority president Riyad al-Malki said on Friday.
In talks with Maliki, Di Maio and Fico "reaffirmed Italy's support for the Palestinian cause and a two-state solution" as well as its "opposition to unilateral positions that violate international law," Maliki said.
"That includes Pompeo's stance on Israeli settlements'" Maliki stated,.
He was referring to a dramatic US policy shift announced last month by US secretary of state Mike Pompeo, who declared that Israeli settlements on occupied Palestinian land are not necessarily illegal.
Maliki was speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the annual MED - Mediterranean Dialogues Conference taking place on Friday and Saturday in Rome. The event is focusing on the region's main crises especially Libya and Syria as well as a raft of issues including migration, terrorism, climate change, technology and investment.
Representatives of over 55 countries are taking part in the conference, among them heads of state and government, ministers, senior officials and representatives of the major international organisations, scholars and experts.
