Italy to Participate in Gaza Peace Board as Observer; Meloni Considers Washington Trip

Italy - Ekhbary News Agency

Italy to Participate in Gaza Peace Board as Observer; Meloni Considers Washington Trip

Italy is preparing to join the inaugural meeting of the Peace Board for Gaza, an initiative aimed at coordinating reconstruction efforts in the Strip, in the capacity of an observer nation. This decision comes amidst growing questions about Rome's role in this U.S.-led initiative, spearheaded by former President Donald Trump, and the specific diplomatic level Italy will be represented at. While some suggest sending Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani or another high-ranking government official, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has not entirely dismissed the possibility of her own attendance in Washington for the crucial Thursday meeting.

The Peace Board, established by Trump, is intended to oversee a multi-billion dollar reconstruction plan for Gaza. However, the initiative faces potential hurdles, including constitutional compatibility issues and requests for amendments to its charter that have yet to receive concrete responses. Despite these challenges, Prime Minister Meloni appears to believe that non-participation would be a strategic misstep, emphasizing the importance of Italy not excluding itself from an initiative that could significantly impact regional stability.

This development unfolds against a backdrop of complex geopolitical dynamics. European voices have expressed a mix of reservations and cautious engagement regarding the Board. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's remarks at the Munich Security Conference, highlighting a perceived "gap" between Europe and the United States, resonate within the continent. Similarly, Brussels has voiced its "reservations" about the Board's operational framework. Amidst this intricate landscape, Meloni, speaking from Addis Ababa, reaffirmed Italy's balanced approach to transatlantic relations, assuring that Italy would not be absent from the Washington meeting.

The Italian political opposition has reacted swiftly to the government's stance. The Democratic Party (PD) has dismissed the move as "another stunt by the right," while Nicola Fratoianni of the AVS alliance has cautioned the government against "dragging our country into this kind of business committee," stressing the necessity of parliamentary approval for such engagements.

Meloni, in her address to the African Union assembly in Addis Ababa, the concluding event of her two-day visit focused on the "Mattei Plan," defended Italy's position by highlighting its "propensity for dialogue ingrained in its DNA." Although no formal press conference was held, Meloni engaged with select journalists following her speech.

Commenting on German Chancellor Merz's critical remarks about the U.S., which were met with a cool reception in Rome, Meloni stated, "We are in a very complex phase of international relations, and a particular phase in relations between Europe and the U.S." She acknowledged agreement with Merz on the need for Europe to "do more on security, on the European pillar of NATO" but diverged on his critique of the "MAGA" political culture, describing them as "political assessments that every leader makes as they see fit."

The Prime Minister confirmed Italy's participation in the Board meeting, a point previously anticipated by Foreign Minister Tajani at the Munich Security Conference. Tajani emphasized the importance of the meeting for Gaza's reconstruction and noted the European Commission's participation. Meloni elaborated that the "observer status is a good solution regarding the constitutional compatibility issue." She added, "We still have to see at what level we will participate, but Rome's response will be positive," citing Italy's extensive work and ongoing commitment to stabilizing the fragile situation in the Middle East, making Italian and European presence necessary.

Prior to Meloni's speech, a message from Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas was read, denouncing the killing of 500 Palestinians since the ceasefire and urging the removal of Israeli obstacles to the second phase of reconstruction, including those hindering the technocratic committee tasked with governing Gaza under the Board's supervision.

Palazzo Chigi is currently engaged in detailed evaluations, with the final decision expected to be influenced by consultations with other European leaders. Washington anticipates the attendance of around twenty delegations, with the U.S. actively pressing for European participation. Meloni speculated that "other European countries will be there too," particularly "Mediterranean countries on the eastern shore," implicitly referring to nations like Turkey. Conversely, the Kremlin has clarified it will not send representatives, while Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has confirmed his attendance. The U.S. and the UAE have pledged over a billion dollars, a contribution that, if paid in the first year, reportedly guarantees permanent membership on the Board – an aspect that raises constitutional concerns for Italy.

Ekhbary News Agency