Netanyahu: Glorious past of two cultures obligates cooperation today between the Israeli and Italian governments.
Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi opened his meeting with Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu Monday by declaring that he is interested in the possibility of Israel joining the European Union. At a reception held in his honor at the Prime Minister’s Office upon his arrival in , Berlsuconi turned to Netanyahu and said that as he told him at a prior meeting meeting at Lake Como, his biggest dream is to have Israel join the European Union.
Berlusconi stated that he hopes that his trip to will lead to close cooperation between the two countries. The Italian premier said that Monday’s event is an important step in strengthening the relationship between Italy and Israel. Berlusconi went on to say that Monday’s meeting was a start, and that the next meeting will be held in Italy. The Italian head of state said he hoped that from this meeting a mutual commitment to work together will develop. He traveled to Israel as the head of an eight-member ministerial delegation.
Regarding Israel’s diminished status in the international community, Berlusconi said that he could not help but feel the world’s insensitivity, going on to say that he wished for the peace and prosperity of Israel, which even today is threatened existentially.
Netanyahu welcomed the Italian premier and declared that it is not every day that Israel has the honor to host one of its best friends. The Prime Minister went on to say that Berlusconi is a warrior for freedom and peace.
According to Netanyahu, the pasts of the two cultures obligates cooperation today between the Israeli and Italian governments.
The Prime Minister elaborated, saying that in Rome and Jerusalem the foundations of Western civilization were established. Netanyahu went on to say that he could think of few nations that have donated more for the development of Western civilization than than Israel and Italy, and as such it is imperative that they stand side-by-side in order to defend their common future and common culture.
On Wednesday, Berlusconi is expected, in an address to the Knesset, to declare that Israel is the state of the Jewish people. Also, the Italian leader is expected to visist areas under control of the Palestinian Authority, and to meet with PA leader Mahmoud Abbas. It is the Italian leader’s intent to persuade Abbas to renew negotiatons with Israel, and to then turn to Israel with a request to freeze construction, for a limited time, in eastern Jerusalem