Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Tuesday hit back at Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir, who compared Italy to a flip-flop after learning he is under investigation in Rome over his public and self-videoed humiliation of Global Sumud Flotilla for Gaza activists detained in the Israeli port of Ashdod last month.
In a post on X, Ben Gvir said: “the land of the boot has become the land of the flip-flop”.
Tajani responded during a a joint meeting of the Foreign Affairs and Defence Committees of the Lower House and the Senate with Defence Minister Guido Crosetto.
“I have no words to comment on what Ben Gvir said about Italy yesterday after learning he was under investigation by the public prosecutor’s office,” Tajani said.
“These are unacceptable remarks that we reject outright; they are unworthy of a minister.
“Italy is a friend of Israel that has always defended freedom and democracy, and we reject any insult or attempt to denigrate us”.
After the activists seeking to get aid to Gaza were intercepted in international waters and taken to Ashdod, Ben Gvir mocked them as wannabe heroes while they were forced to kneel, faces to the ground, blindfolded and cuffed, and he told them “Welcome to Israel”.
Ben Gvir has been put under investigation into a probe into alleged abduction and torture in relation to the treatment of the activists, including many Italians, sources said.
Tajani pointed out on Tuesday that he has asked EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Affairs Kaja Kallas to present a proposal for sanctions on Ben Gvir to the foreign affairs council and that many countries, including France and the Netherlands, were in favour.
“We will see in the coming days whether it is possible to reach a consensus in Europe, but I want to reassure this House that we will continue to push towards this goal,” Tajani said.
“We are ready to evaluate, with our European partners, measures on products from illegal settlements,” he added.
“We are awaiting the European Commission’s proposals”.