A day after polls which looked set to elect one of the most right-wing coalitions in Israel's history, Italy's foreign minister Antonio Tajani underlined his country's support for a two-state solution to the conflict with the Palestinians involving security guarantees for Israel.
"Israel's security is certainly a priority," Tajani told the TG5 news channel on Wednesday.
Tajani's comments to TG5 came amid mounting concerns at the threat to regional stability posed by a far-right government taking power in Israel and mounting violence across Israeli-annexed east Jerusalem and the occupied West Bank.
"We must work for peace in the Middle East," said Tajani, stressing international support for Israel's right to exist.
"It's clear no one plans to wipe Israel off the map," Tajani said.
"Two people and two states. Israel must live in security and there must be a Palestinian state for the Palestinians," Tajani stated.
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