Italian opposition slams government for not joining sanctions on illegal Israeli settlements

Italy’s opposition parties on Wednesday slammed the government for not joining a group of countries imposing restrictions on trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, according to the La Repubblica newspaper, Anadolu reports.

Five Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte called on the government to “show a shred of dignity” and back an opposition bill in parliament to impose sanctions on Israeli settlements.

“Show a shred of dignity and approve our bill in parliament to proceed with sanctions,” Conte said, criticizing Rome’s decision not to join the initiative.

Democratic Party leader Elly Schlein also condemned Italy’s absence, calling it “shameful” and accusing the government of missing another opportunity to defend international law and avoid “double standards.”

Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani defended the decision, saying Rome wants the measures to be adopted at the European Union level rather than through separate national initiatives.

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“We aim for a European decision,” Tajani said, arguing that a common EU approach was necessary to avoid distortions in the bloc’s internal market.

He also noted that the UK, which joined the initiative, is no longer an EU member.

Italy was not among the 12 countries that announced plans to impose national restrictions on trade in goods with Israeli settlements in the West Bank.

The countries are France, the UK, Denmark, Spain, Finland, Ireland, Iceland, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Sweden, and Canada.

They said the situation in the West Bank was rapidly deteriorating, citing an increase in settler violence and the expansion of Israeli settlements.

They called on Israel to halt settlement expansion and opposed actions that could lead to the annexation of Palestinian land or the forced displacement of Palestinians.

Italy, France and Germany also signed a joint statement in August condemning the planned E1 settlement project between East Jerusalem and Maale Adumim, which critics say would divide the West Bank and further isolate East Jerusalem.

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has described the E1 project as a “nail in the coffin” of the establishment of a Palestinian state.

READ: 11 European countries plus Canada vow restrictions on trade with illegal Israeli settlements