Italy’s Conte vows to scrap military pact with ‘Israel’, recognize Palestine if elected

• Giuseppe Conte, leader of Italy’s Five Star Movement and a former prime minister, pledged to recognize Palestinian statehood and end Italy’s military cooperation agreement with ‘Israel’ if his political camp returns to government.
• Conte called for urgent parliamentary consideration of legislation banning imports and advertising of goods and services originating from ‘Israeli’ settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory.
• He accused the government of failing to align its policies with international law and criticized Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani over his position on the issue.

Former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has pledged to recognize the State of Palestine and terminate Italy’s military cooperation agreement with ‘Israel’ if his political camp returns to power, outlining a sharp shift in foreign policy toward the occupied Palestinian territories.

Conte, who leads the opposition Five Star Movement, made the commitments during a speech in Italy’s Chamber of Deputies on Nov. 5, while pressing parliament to fast-track legislation prohibiting imports of goods and services originating from illegal ‘Israeli’ settlements.

“This is not just about a law; it is about a new phase of government: when we take office, we will recognize the State of Palestine and tear up the military cooperation agreement with Israel,” Conte said.

“We will fight to restore international law,” he added.

The proposed legislation would prohibit the import of products and services linked to ‘Israeli’ settlements in the occupied Palestinian territory. Conte presented the measure as a test of Italy’s willingness to translate its stated commitment to international law into concrete policy.

“This is more than a simple legislative proposal, because with this vote this chamber will decide the Italy we want,” he said. “We are at a crossroads.”

He also took aim at Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, criticizing remarks he attributed to him that suggested international law had limits. Conte argued that Italy could not claim to defend democratic principles and international law while applying them selectively in its foreign relations.

A challenge to Italy’s policy toward ‘Israel’

Conte also accused the Italian government of lagging behind other countries in restricting commercial ties with settlements. He said 10 countries had introduced measures against the sale of products originating in illegally occupied Palestinian territory two months earlier, while Italy had failed to join them.

“We have become deserters of international law,” he said.

His proposals would represent a significant departure from the current government's approach, linking recognition of Palestinian statehood with economic and military measures directed at ‘Israel.’

Italy's military cooperation agreement with “Israel” has been a longstanding element of bilateral relations. Ending it would mark a major policy reversal, going beyond diplomatic criticism to directly affect military ties.

Palestinian recognition would also place Italy among the growing number of countries that have formally recognized Palestinian statehood, although Conte's pledge remains conditional on his political camp taking office.

The Five Star Movement leader framed the proposed measures as part of a broader effort to restore Italy's adherence to international law, challenging lawmakers to demonstrate whether their principles would extend to their decisions on Palestine.

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