The Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth revealed that Italy refused to accept Israel’s appointment of a settlement leader as its ambassador to Rome.

The Israeli newspaper explained that Italy recently sent letters to "Israel" stating that it does not agree to appoint Benny Kashariel as ambassador to Rome, because he is a settler from the Maale Adumim settlement east of occupied Jerusalem.

Last summer, the occupation government approved the appointment of Kashriel, who was the mayor of Maale Adumim, and previously served as head of the Yesha settlement council, and is scheduled to assume his position after about six months.

According to the procedures, after the occupation government approves the appointment of the ambassador, the host government is supposed to approve it itself, but so far the required approval has not been received from Italy.

The Italians expressed, through diplomatic channels, their discomfort with the appointment of a person considered to be a senior settler leader, and that this would embarrass them in the European Union.

Italy's position surprises the Israeli government

The newspaper stated, “The unusual Italian position raised eyebrows among the Israeli government, given that Italy currently has a right-wing government led by Giorgio Malone, and is considered very friendly towards Tel Aviv, but its position on appointing the ambassador appears to be influenced by the broad consensus in the European Union regarding the settlements.” .

The newspaper indicated that the political level in the occupying state asked President Isaac Herzog to hold talks with Rome to resolve the problem.

The website referred to a similar incident, when Brazil refused to appoint Danny Dayan as Israeli ambassador to Brazil, due to his membership in the Yesha settlement council, and he was appointed by Netanyahu as consul general in New York.

The Hebrew website said that this "is not the only political appointment that may not go smoothly, as Tel Aviv agreed, on Sunday, to appoint former Knesset member Avraham Naoussa to the position of Israel's ambassador to Ethiopia."

However, sources familiar with Israeli-Ethiopian relations warn the Israeli newspaper that the Ethiopian government may not agree to appoint Naousa due to his activities supporting the migration of Falash Jews from Ethiopia to occupied Palestine.

On November 22, 2023, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that “Israel” needs to review the international perception of its attack on Hamas, and the method of achieving its goals, explaining that his message to Israel is the need to respect international law and deal seriously with civilians.

The Italian minister added, "There are a very large number of extremists in Israel, especially in the West Bank."