An Italian diplomatic source reported Rome's opposition to Israel naming the mayor of one of the main West Bank settlements as its ambassador to Rome.
A diplomatic crisis between Israel and Italy against the backdrop of Rome’s refusal to appoint an extremist Israeli ambassador.
In July, the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs proposed the name of Benny Kashriel, the mayor of the Maale Adumim settlement near Jerusalem, to succeed Alon Bar, the career diplomat who will retire in the summer of 2024.
Italy's coalition government headed by Giorgia Meloni supports Israel in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Strip, which broke out after the unprecedented October 7 attack on Israel.
But Rome also considers that the settlements established in the Palestinian territories occupied by Israel since 1967 and considered illegal by the United Nations constitute an obstacle to peace.
Kashriel, 72, served as mayor of a settlement with a population of 49,000 since 1992, and heads a local branch of the right-wing Likud Party, to which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu belongs.
When announcing his name, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen stated that Kashriel is distinguished by his experience in issues of “regional security and stability,” in addition to economic and energy issues.
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