Italy issues diplomatic note to Israel

Italy took action after two Italian soldiers were threatened with a weapon by an Israeli settler in the occupied West Bank yesterday. The Italian Foreign Ministry summoned the Israeli Ambassador to the ministry and issued a protest note. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani requested that a "strong protest" regarding the incident be conveyed to the Israeli Ambassador.

The Italian Embassy in Tel Aviv submitted an official protest note to the Israeli government and contacted the Foreign Ministry, the Israeli military, the police, and the internal security agency Shin Bet.

According to Italian government sources, the Israeli, who is believed to be a settler, forced the two Italian soldiers to kneel at gunpoint and interrogated them. The incident occurred yesterday while the Italian soldiers were traveling to conduct preparations and inspections ahead of a visit by a delegation of European Union ambassadors to a village near the Palestinian city of Ramallah. The two soldiers, who were traveling in a vehicle with diplomatic plates, returned to the Italian Consulate General in Jerusalem unharmed after the incident.

News Source: 12punto