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Il Quirinal hosted a significant meeting between the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, and the President of Palestine, Mahmoud Abbas, also known as Abu Mazen. This meeting, which took place in a delicate international context, had the primary objective of strengthening ties between the two countries and promoting lasting peace in the region.
Mattarella welcomed Abu Mazen with enthusiasm, highlighting the friendship that unites Italy and Palestine.
The dialogue between Italy and Palestine
During his statement, President Mattarella emphasized the importance of Palestinian National Authority as a key interlocutor for Italy and the international community. "Our friendship is solid and has further strengthened," he said, recognizing Ramallah's key role in international dialogue. Mattarella called for concrete action with humanitarian aid , reconstruction of Gaza, stressing that these goals require the disarmament of Hamas and the active involvement of Arab countries.
Peace and security objectives
President Mattarella also emphasized the urgency of removing the obstacles preventing the realization of a two-state solution. He stated: "We must act quickly to prevent anti-peace forces from regrouping." Respecting the ceasefire is essential, he added, as violence only further distances security for everyone, including Israelis.
Abu Mazen's requests
During the meeting, Abbas reiterated his stance against war and terrorism. He declared his aspiration to live in a recognized Palestinian state, emphasizing that the time has come for Israel to also recognize its state. "We recognized Israel in 1988 and 1993 with the Oslo Accords; now it's time for Israel to do the same," Abbas said. He also insisted on the need to disarm Hamas, which must have no role in future Palestinian governance.
The recognition of Palestine
Abu Mazen then met with the Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni, to further discuss the issue of Italy's official recognition of Palestine. This recognition is considered crucial to protecting the two-state solution and ensuring peace based on international legitimacy. Abbas called for Italy's continued commitment to supporting the reconstruction of Gaza and strengthening security, emphasizing the importance of active cooperation among all parties involved.
Italy's commitments for peace
During his meeting with Meloni, the Palestinian president highlighted the economic and financial challenges facing Palestine, exacerbated by Israel's withholding of tax revenues. Meloni reaffirmed Italy's commitment to humanitarian assistance, mentioning initiatives such as "Food for Gaza" and medical evacuation projects. The Italian government is preparing a reconstruction aid package to present at the Gaza conference scheduled for Egypt.
The meeting between Mattarella and Abbas represents an important step toward greater cooperation between Italy and Palestine. The willingness of both leaders to continue the dialogue and address shared challenges is a positive sign for the future of the region and the pursuit of a stable peace.