"Tajani, Israel's influencer," brawl erupts in the Chamber with the Five Star Movement.

The Foreign Minister appears before the Senate for a briefing on foreign policy, a vast agenda at a time like this, and the opposition awaits him with weapons drawn. An incident is in the air and erupts when, during the vote, it's the turn of the deputy group leader of the Five Star Movement, Alessandra Maiorino . As is her style, she comes across harsh and inflammatory. Perhaps she gets a little carried away when she accuses Tajani of being " like an influencer paid by Israel ." All hell breaks loose. The right snaps, and Vice President Ronzulli , who is chairing the session, rebukes the Five Star member who holds her ground: " I only said influencer, it's not an insult ." Tajani, however, feels insulted indeed.

Tajani spares no criticism of Israel, stating bluntly that " what is happening in the Strip is increasingly unacceptable ," that Israel 's reaction to October 7th went far beyond " a proportionate response ," and that the creation of a Palestinian state is essential. He also gives a thumbs-down to the attack on Qatar: violating its sovereignty is " unacceptable ," especially since it is being broadcast live on television. He furiously responds: " It means I am being bribed by a foreign state to commit acts contrary to my duty. Making such an accusation without evidence is an unacceptable disgrace ." The Five Star Movement should distance itself. Maiorino, however, who is one of those politicians who thrives on brawls, doubles down: " You didn't quite understand. I said 'like a paid influencer.' But he isn't paid: he's an influencer for free ." The brawl was obvious, the right-wing uprising, the convening of a group leaders' conference, which, however, imposed no sanctions but merely a warning, a sort of red card for the combative Conte supporter. The incident was the only unexpected development and almost the only moment of any interest in an otherwise predictable debate down to the last comma.

Tajani certainly does not spare criticism of Israel. There is the " unacceptable wound for the entire international community," the strident condemnation of the "violation of Qatar's sovereignty ," the unambiguous stance on the Palestinian state. But the minister alone knows that this is not enough. These are words that are not followed by any action, not even in promises and good intentions. Sanctions, yes, of course, but only against settlers guilty of truly violent behavior. Willingness to listen to the proposals of President von der Leyen , who will ask to denounce the trade agreement between the EU and Israel, certainly yes, of course. But without any commitment to accept the proposal and in reality without even any intention of doing so. And not even to recognize the Palestinian state because " recognizing a state without first creating the conditions for its birth would have no effect ." The Italian minister announces that he has contacted his Israeli counterpart Sa'ar to recommend respecting the rights of all Italians heading with the Flotilla towards Gaza, and in particular the four parliamentarians on board. To all " Diplomatic and consular assistance " will obviously be guaranteed. Nothing more, and that's very little.

On the crisis in Ukraine, Tajani is only slightly more concrete. Here too, scripted statements abound, starting with the " offense to the security of the entire Euro-Atlantic area " represented by the incursion of those Russian drones. There is something concrete, though certainly not unexpected, here: the sanctions, that nineteenth package that Italy now supports wholeheartedly. It's the pressure on Russia called for by the whole of Europe, and Italy, which is reportedly ready to send its soldiers on a peacekeeping mission in Gaza, is not at all ready regarding Ukraine. Italy's position, drones or no drones, remains unchanged: no mission, security guarantees entrusted to the extension of Article 5 of the NATO Treaty to Kiev. What has changed, however, is the framework, even though the minister obviously makes no mention of this dangerous shift underway. Yesterday, Poland partially closed its airspace, as did the Baltic states. Ursula von der Leyen has sounded the deafening drums of war. NATO's analysis explains the drone strikes over Poland as a cold-blooded move to test NATO's responsiveness, which responded by downing the same drones by aircraft from several countries, including Italy. Overall, the decision to send troops to Ukraine as soon as possible has made more progress in two days than Macron , Kaja Kallas , and von der Leyen herself achieved in two months.

FROM

David Romoli