Italy has suspended its defense agreement with Israel, which involves the exchange of military equipment and technology research, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and diplomatic sources said Tuesday, April 14. “In view of the current situation, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defense agreement with Israel,” Meloni said on the sidelines of an event in Verona, according to Italian news agencies ANSA and AGI.
Approved by Israel in 2006, the agreement is reviewed every five years. It calls for cooperation across defense industries, education and training of military personnel, research and development and information technology, among others.
Tensions between the two countries have risen over the past week after the Italian government accused Israeli forces of firing warning shots at a convoy of Italian UN peacekeepers in Lebanon. Italy summoned Israel’s ambassador in protest over the incident that damaged at least one vehicle but caused no injuries.
Whaaaat? I didn’t expect this. After four attacks on the UNIFIL mission, and thus on Italian troops, which were met with nothing more than verbal reprimands, I had given up hope that the Italian government would actually do anything.