The resolution adopted by Unesco on the holy places in the Middle East “is a hallucinatory affair, I asked the Foreign Minister to see us immediately upon my return to Rome. It is incomprehensible, unacceptable and wrong. Yesterday I expressly asked our people to stop with these positions. We cannot continue with these motions aimed at attacking Israel. If there is to break European unity on this, let it break”.
These are the harsh words spoken by Prime Minister Matteo Renzi to Rtl 102.5, commenting on the decision taken by UNESCO.
The resolution in question, on which Italy abstained, concerns East Jerusalem and was commissioned by the Arab countries in order to protect the Palestinian cultural heritage. However, Israel has put in place a strong dispute, since the document allegedly denies the millennial bond of the Jews with the Old City where the Wailing Wall stands, the holiest place for Jews. It should be emphasized that, in the text, the holy places of East Jerusalem are indicated only by their Arabic name.
“Historically we have always taken these positions together with the other European countries. But I find the Unesco decision sincerely incomprehensible and wrong. – continued the Prime Minister – We cannot continue with these motions, once at the UN, once at UNESCO against Israel. To argue that Jerusalem and Judaism have no relationship is to argue that the sun makes it dark: something incomprehensible, unsustainable and wrong. I specifically asked the diplomats who deal with these things that we cannot go on like this: we cannot deny reality".
Israel immediately expressed its appreciation for the words spoken by Matteo Renzi: "We thank and congratulate the Italian government for this important statement," said Israeli Foreign Ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon.
