A diplomatic confrontation has emerged between Italy and Israel following the detention of two Italian security officers by an Israeli soldier in the occupied West Bank. The incident occurred Sunday near Ramallah when the Carabinieri officers—Italy’s specialized police force that occasionally participates in international peacekeeping missions—were stopped at gunpoint while conducting official duties in Palestinian territories.
Israeli Ambassador to Italy Jonathan Peled expressed regret over the encounter during a Monday meeting with Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, who summoned the diplomat to convey Rome’s ‘strong disappointment and formal protest.’ Peled committed to conducting appropriate investigations into the matter.
The Israeli military provided a contrasting account, stating that the soldier acted according to established protocol for suspicious vehicles. Military officials noted the officers’ vehicle lacked diplomatic markings and was traveling on a road prohibited to civilian traffic. While acknowledging the soldier had raised his weapon, the military emphasized the officers were released immediately after identification.
Italian media reports contradict this narrative, alleging the officers were forced to kneel for questioning despite traveling in an armored vehicle with diplomatic plates and carrying official passports. The incident has amplified Italy’s existing concerns regarding settler violence in the West Bank, which Rome had previously condemned.
The broader context underscores ongoing tensions in the region, where approximately 500,000 Israeli settlers reside in territories captured during the 1967 Middle East war. Most international authorities consider these settlements illegal and obstructive to peace efforts, with Palestinians seeking the West Bank, East Jerusalem, and Gaza Strip for a future state.