Israel PM in Rome to stop Palestine state

Rome's Mayor Gianni Alemanno (R) shakes hands with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's (C) wife Sara (L)

Source: Press TV
http://www.presstv.ir/detail/184430.html

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is due to meet Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi in a bid to convince Italy to oppose a Palestinian statehood.

Netanyahu and nine Israeli ministers arrived in Italy on Sunday for two days of joint meetings, AFP reported.

The talks between Netanyahu and Berlusconi are to include the recent changes and revolutions in the Middle East.

The main reason of the visit, however, is to persuade Italy to oppose a Palestinian statehood as the new Palestinian unity government is expected to apply for the United Nations recognition and membership in September.

According to the Israeli ambassador to Rome, Gideon Meir, Italy was "opposed to the principle of UN recognition in September of a Palestinian state on the lines that existed before June 1967.”

After his visit to Italy, Netanyahu is expected to travel to Romania, Bulgaria, Poland and Hungary as well.

Later this month, Israeli officials are also due to meet with Irish officials in the capital Dublin to persuade them for a possible veto against a Palestinian statehood.

Further, the Israeli foreign ministry has ordered its ambassadors around the world to fuel media hype, at the highest level possible, against a Palestinian statehood.

The United States says it will veto the application at the UN Security Council. The US says it has informed Palestinians that the only way they see a UN membership possible, is through bilateral negotiations with the Israeli regime.