ROME: Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni warned on Tuesday against withdrawing UN peacekeepers from Lebanon at Israel’s unilateral request, as she announced she would visit Lebanon on Friday.
Meloni would be the first head of state or government to visit the country since an escalation between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah on September 23.
At least five peacekeepers have been wounded in recent days as Israel targets Hezbollah in southern Lebanon.
Italian troops are part of a UN mission in southern Lebanon that has accused Israeli forces of firing on peacekeepers, something Meloni has said was “unacceptable.”
Speaking to members of the lower house of parliament on Tuesday, she rejected Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call for the UN to move the peacekeepers.
“I think that a withdrawal based on a unilateral request by Israel would be a serious mistake, it would undermine the credibility of the mission itself, the credibility of the United Nations,” she said.
“And I also think that our soldiers, as they have been precious all these years, will be precious again when we manage to obtain a ceasefire.”
UNIFIL, a United Nations mission of about 9,500 troops of various nationalities created following Israel’s 1978 invasion of Lebanon, has accused the Israeli military of “deliberately” firing on its positions.
Italy is the second-biggest contributor of UNIFIL peacekeepers, and Meloni has been outspoken on the attacks, including during a phone call with Netanyahu on Sunday.
Speaking to the Senate earlier on Tuesday, she said the attitude of the Israeli forces was “entirely unjustified.”
“In recent days, for the first time in a year of Israeli military actions, the positions of the Italian military contingent assigned to the UNIFIL mission of the United Nations have been hit by the Israeli army,” she said.
“Although there were no casualties or significant damage, I believe this cannot be considered acceptable.”
She demanded the security of the soldiers be guaranteed.
She called the Israeli forces’ stance “a blatant violation of what was established by United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701.”
She added: “On the other hand, we cannot ignore the violation of the same resolution committed over the years by Hezbollah, which has worked to militarise the area under UNIFIL’s jurisdiction.”
Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani will be heading to Israel and the Palestinian territories next week, Meloni added.
Italy PM to visit Lebanon Friday after hits on UNIFIL
https://arab.news/5bsne
Italy PM to visit Lebanon Friday after hits on UNIFIL
- Meloni would be the first head of state or government to visit the country since an escalation between Israel and Lebanese militant group Hezbollah on September 23
- Italian troops are part of a UN mission in southern Lebanon that has accused Israeli forces of firing on peacekeepers, something Meloni has said was “unacceptable.”
Kremlin says Putin is mediating in Iran to normalize situation
- Putin had then been briefed by Pezeshkian in a separate call on what the Kremlin called Tehran’s “sustained efforts” to normalize the situation inside Iran
MOSCOW: President Vladimir Putin is mediating in the Iran situation to quickly de-escalate tensions, the Kremlin said on Friday, after the Russian leader spoke with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.
Moscow has condemned US threats of new military strikes after Iran acted against protests that broke out late last month.
Putin in his call with Netanyahu expressed Russia’s willingness to “continue its mediation efforts and to promote constructive dialogue with the participation of all interested states,” the Kremlin said, adding he had set out his ideas for boosting stability in the Middle East.
No further details were given on Putin’s mediation attempt.
Putin had then been briefed by Pezeshkian in a separate call on what the Kremlin called Tehran’s “sustained efforts” to normalize the situation inside Iran.
“It was noted that Russia and Iran unanimously and consistently support de-escalating
the tensions — both surrounding Iran and in the region as a whole — as soon as possible
and resolving any emerging issues through exclusively political and diplomatic means,” the Kremlin said.
Putin and Pezeshkian had confirmed their commitment to their countries’ strategic partnership and to implementing joint economic projects, the Kremlin added.
Separately, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, which includes Russia, China, India, and Iran, among others, said it opposed external interference in Iran and blamed Western sanctions for creating conditions for unrest.
“Unilateral sanctions have had a significant negative impact on the economic stability of the state, led to a deterioration in people’s living conditions, and objectively limited the ability of the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran to implement measures to ensure the country’s socio-economic development,” the SCO said in a statement.
Protests erupted on Dec. 28 over soaring inflation in Iran, whose economy has been crippled by sanctions.
Asked what support Russia could provide to Iran, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: “Russia is already providing assistance not only to Iran but also to the entire region, and to the cause of regional stability and peace. This is partly thanks to the president’s efforts to help de-escalate tensions.”
The US Treasury on Thursday announced new sanctions targeting Iranian officials, including Ali Larijani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme Council for National Security.
