Italian deputy PM defends Israel's security barrier

Financial Times ^ | November 05 2003 | Tony Barber

[knighthawk]

Gianfranco Fini, Italy's deputy prime minister, yesterday defended Israel's right to build a controversial security barrier in the West Bank, in remarks that appeared to put the Italian government at odds with its European Union partners.

Asked at a news conference whether he agreed with a United Nations General Assembly resolution that demanded Israel stop building the barrier, Mr Fini said: "It's necessary to put oneself in the shoes of everybody and understand the reasons why Israel thinks that, to defend itself, it should control its territory better."

He added: "The government of Israel is an expression of popular sovereignty, it has won elections, and it will answer to its electorate when the next vote comes round. To judge from afar is very easy but also very wrong."

Italy holds the European Union's six-month rotating presidency until the end of the year and has tried to use its term to tone down EU criticisms of Israeli policies.

The official EU view of the West Bank barrier is that it causes humanitarian problems for Palestinians and could prejudice the outcome of any talks on a final settlement of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Under Silvio Berlusconi, who became prime minister in 2001, Italy's centre-right government has made a point of establishing cordial relations with Israel, saying this gives Italy a better chance of serving as an honest broker in the Middle East than in the days when the country tended to speak up more for the Palestinians.

Franco Frattini, Italy's foreign minister, has been strongly critical this week of a European Commission-sponsored poll that showed a majority of EU citizens considered Israel the biggest threat to world peace. He let it be known he was "surprised and disappointed".

[knighthawk]

Ping

[CWOJackson]

I still think eastern Europe, the U.S. and some of our new allies should create an alternative to the EU. Eastern Europe should form their own union with direct trade ties to the U.S. and some of our allies. Nations like Italy and Spain should be given the option to participate...and leave the EU that they are becoming more and more disillusioned with.

[Arpege92]

Isn't it better for all concerned that this wall continue? Israel is far better equipped to permanently remove all Palestinians from this earth and yet they have taken on a more defensive tactic rather than an offensive tactic. These Palestinians should thank their lucky stars that they are even alive.