Italy protests after two Carabinieri threatened and made to kneel by armed settler
Italy has formally protested after two Arma dei Carabinieri officers were threatened, forced to kneel and briefly held at gunpoint by a man believed to be an Israeli settler while on duty in Cisgiordania (the West Bank). The episode has prompted the Italian government to summon Israel’s ambassador in Rome and lodge a diplomatic protest.
According to Italian foreign ministry sources, the two military policemen were on a site inspection near Ramallah on Sunday, preparing for a mission by European Union ambassadors to a village in territory administered by the Authority Nazionale Palestinese. During the visit, a man in civilian clothes, presumed to be a settler, allegedly pointed a rifle at them, made them kneel and subjected them to a brief improvised “interrogation.”
The Carabinieri were in an official vehicle with diplomatic plates and were carrying diplomatic passports. Following rules of engagement, they did not respond to the threats with force, and after the encounter they returned safely to the Consulate General of Italy in Jerusalem and reported the incident to their chain of command. Italian officials also verified that the location was not a recognised military area.
Italy’s Antonio Tajani summoned Israel’s ambassador, Jonathan Peled, to the Farnesina on Monday, conveying Rome’s “strong protest” and seeking clarification on the serious episode. The Italian embassy in Tel Aviv also sent a formal note of protest to the Israeli government, contacting senior officials across the foreign ministry, the Israel Defense Forces, the national police and the Shin Bet security service.
The ambassador expressed regret for the incident and indicated that his government would conduct appropriate investigations, the ministry said. The Italian reaction underscores concern in Rome about the safety of Italian personnel and the broader issue of settler behaviour in the occupied territories.
The incident has drawn attention amid ongoing tensions in the West Bank and highlights the complex security environment in areas where civilians, security forces and international personnel often operate in close proximity.
Ph: Il Fatto Quotidiano
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