Minister Crosetto in Israel to meet with Defence Minister Yoav Gallant

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Today, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto met with his Israeli counterpart, Yoav Gallant, in Jerusalem. The meeting is part of a broader initiative, started by Minister Crosetto with the G7 Defence Ministerial followed by meetings with his colleagues from Saudi Arabia and Turkey: During talks, the two Defence Ministers conducted a detailed analysis of the situation in Gaza and Southern Lebanon, underscoring the need to establish the conditions for a durable solution, able to ensure stability in the Middle East.

During the meeting, Minister Crosetto reiterated the need to fully implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1701, to ensure that the Lebanese Armed Forces (LAFs) and UNIFIL are the only armed entities in Southern Lebanon, between the Blue Line and Litani River. Both ministers have agreed to implement all possible efforts to protect UNIFIL and the civilian population, preventing their involvement in clashes with Hezbollah, and underscored the need to review and make more effective UNIFIL’s current mandate.

Crosetto and Gallant said they hope that hostages in the hands of Hamas terrorists be released soon, and praised the protection ensured to the civilian population by the Israeli Defence Forces’ defence capacities during Iran’s recent attacks, that allowed preventing the danger of further escalation. Minister Crosetto insisted that a ceasefire be agreed as soon as possible, allowing the resumption of diplomatic actions. Concurrently, both ministers reiterated the importance of supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces, whose reinforcement is crucial to create the security conditions necessary to allow the return of displaced people, toward both Southern Lebanon and Northern Israel.

Finally, the ministers discussed the situation in Syria, since stability there is a decisive factor for security and stability in the Middle East as a whole.