Italy today suspended a defense agreement with Israel amid growing criticism of Israeli attacks in the ongoing war in Lebanon.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the suspension of the long-standing agreement, signed more than two decades ago to increase defense cooperation, reports the Telegraph.
"Considering the current situation we are experiencing, the government has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defense agreement with Israel," Meloni said in Verona, Italy.
The Memorandum of Understanding was signed in 2003 by then-Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi and entered into force in 2006. The agreement was subject to automatic renewal every five years.
In response to the suspension, Israel's Foreign Ministry downplayed the significance of the agreement.
"We do not have a security agreement with Italy. We have had a memorandum of understanding for many years that never had any real substance. This will not harm Israel's security," the Ministry said in a statement.
Meloni's government had previously maintained close ties with Israel, even after the start of the Gaza war more than two years ago. But those relations have soured with growing Italian criticism of Israel over attacks in Lebanon, which have killed more than 2,000 people, according to Lebanon's health ministry. /Telegraph/
