Israel hails Italy's opposition to Palestinian state bid

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Israel hails Italy's opposition to Palestinian state bid

Published Monday 13/06/2011 (updated) 14/06/2011 20:57

Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (left) greets his Israeli counterpart
Benjamin Netanyahu prior to talks at Villa Madama in Rome. Berlusconi has
declared his opposition to a bid by the Palestinians for UN membership, earning
thanks from Netanyahu. [AFP/Vincenzo Pinto]

ROME (AFP) -- Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi on Monday declared his opposition to a bid by the Palestinians for UN membership, earning thanks from his Israeli counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu.

"We do not believe that a unilateral solution can help peace, neither on the Palestinian side nor on the Israeli side. I believe peace can only be reached with a common initiative through negotiations," Berlusconi told reporters following talks with Netanyahu in Rome.

"I want to thank you for your clear position against the attempt to bypass peace negotiations. Peace will only come through negotiations," Netanyahu said.

1 ) Carlos / USA

13/06/2011 19:03

Berlusconi can rape another girl while helping Israel commit crimes against humanity. The only good news here is Berlusconi government will fall soon and Italys disgust with his behavior will allow Italians to see Israel in correct light.

2 ) Dora / US/Americas

13/06/2011 20:23

I don't think Prime Minster Berlusconi has any credibility or speaks for the Italian people. No one needs permission to get approval to exist, and neither should the Palestinians. Netanyahu can try to stop what we all know is going to happen--Palestine will end the Israeli Occupation over them, it is 60 years in the making. What will Israel do after occupations? This is what their leaders should help them with- -life, without them as occupiers. Statehood will need more than Italy approval.

3 ) Omar / USA

13/06/2011 20:39

blah blah blah who cares what Musalini Burlesconi has to say.

4 ) George / USA

13/06/2011 20:58

These 2 abusers should be ashamed of their scandals.

5 ) mohamed / somalia

13/06/2011 21:29

berlusconi=person non grata

6 ) Catherine / Canada

13/06/2011 22:08

Netanyau and Berlosconi! What a pair! Looks like they just returned from a bunga bunga party.

7 ) who cares / uk

14/06/2011 00:17

WHO CARES HIS OPINION!! IT HAS NO VALUE,,ACTUALLY IS NOW OUT OF THE INTERNATIONAL SPHERE, HE SHOULD BE MORE WORRIED ABOUT HIS SEX SCANDALS

8 ) KAHG / US

14/06/2011 01:58

odd how the 2 former Axis countries oppose a Palestinian State guess guilt is valuable

9 ) Julie / USA

14/06/2011 03:12

great photo of two world criminals...it'll look good in interpol's "wanted" list of mug shots

10 ) Joe Fattal / USA

14/06/2011 04:23

Neither pizza or spaghetti originated in Italy so common sense. Peace will not be achieve with negotiations, Israel has the upper hand. Going to the UN is probably the only option available now and I don't think no one has the right to stop it. Maybe the UN will reject it, so why Netanyahu is so worry about. It looks to me Israel has more to lose than the Palestinians. So go for it.

11 ) Yehuda Solomon / Israel

14/06/2011 05:28

Our Prime Minister should STAY THE HELL AWAY FROM HIM. Actually, I FULLY AGREE with 3) Omar from the USA and the 7) poster from the UK. A lot of us IN ISRAEL DON'T GIVE A DAMN ABOUT HIS VIEWS whether for OR against Palestinian nationhood. He's a BIG ENOUGH EMBARRASSMENT to HIMSELF and should QUIT HIS JOB and GET THE HELL OUT OF PUBLIC OFFICE even though his scandals are personal (but then again if the Italians allow him to stay that's their business and none of ours). We DON'T NEED him.

12 ) Outsider / EU

14/06/2011 10:43

Bibi certainly knows how to choose his friends. While in Europe, he should drop by fanboy Geert Wilders as well. As Mr Netayahu does not like unilateral solutions on the Israeli side, perhaps he might like to stop confiscations, demolitions and the mass arrest of Palestinian leaders during a ceasefire. The hypocrisy is absolutely astounding.

13 ) Hilde / Norway

14/06/2011 12:03

Funny how Israel's warmest European bedfellow is a fascist.

14 ) silver / philippines

14/06/2011 15:37

negotiation for what bibi? zionist leaders must ashame for their apartheid act in palestine. unfortunate for the italians in siding with the wrong guy

15 ) alessandra / italy

15/06/2011 01:30

yesterday around 97% of italians voted against Bibi's reform. all of us went and vote against what he is doing. milion of people were in the squares and milion are protesting everyday against police that charge us! unfortunately we all live in a big cage and "we" do not know many things that happen around the world! Bibi is not my president and he does not represent italians as we are trying to show.palestinians deserve a free state, because on "their land there is what's worth living." Darwish

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