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Bepi Pezzulli
International law counsel & foreign policy adviser

Italy, arms embargo on Israel yet deal with Qatar!

Rome, 21/10/2024 - The Italian Prime Minister meets the Emir of Qatar (Cabinet Office Photo Gallery)

In a troubling display of political inconsistency, Italy’s recent decisions to stop arms sales to Israel while cementing ties with Qatar—a known sponsor of Hamas—expose a deeply flawed approach to both international diplomacy and national security. On the one hand, Italy is attempting to project itself as a moral leader by halting military exports to Israel under the guise of humanitarian concerns. On the other, the Italian government has just inked multiple agreements with Qatar, a state whose long-standing financial and ideological support of Hamas has been well documented. This juxtaposition of policies not only betrays Italy’s supposed commitment to peace but also undermines its credibility as an actor in the Middle East.

The Qatar Deal: Strengthening Ties with a Sponsor of Terrorism

On October 21, 2024, Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni hosted Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, the Emir of Qatar, in Rome. The outcome of this high-profile meeting was a series of agreements focused on economic and defense cooperation. While these deals may appear beneficial on the surface, the geopolitical implications of aligning so closely with Qatar cannot be ignored.

Qatar’s support for Hamas has been a well-established fact. It is no secret that the country has been a financial lifeline for the group, providing millions in funding that has undoubtedly enabled Hamas’s capacity to sustain its violent campaigns against Israel. By signing deals with Qatar, Italy is essentially ignoring this reality, opting instead to deepen ties with a regime that plays both sides in the Middle East conflict. Qatar’s role as a mediator between Hamas and Israel does not negate its complicity in facilitating the violence that has left thousands dead, including civilians.

Defense cooperation is of particular concern: the countries agreed to collaboration in military training, joint exercises, and defense technologies. Qatar, which has been modernizing its military forces in recent years, views Italy as a key partner in this endeavor. Italy, with its advanced defense industry, particularly in aerospace and maritime sectors, stands to provide expertise and technology transfers to Qatar. This includes cooperation in naval and air defense systems, potentially leveraging Italian expertise from companies such as Leonardo, which specializes in defense electronics, and Fincantieri, known for shipbuilding.

The Arms Embargo on Israel: A Symbolic but Flawed Gesture

Contrast this with Italy’s decision to stop arms sales to Israel, announced just before the meeting with Qatar. Ostensibly taken as a response to Israel’s military operations in Gaza, the move has been framed by the Italian government as a moral imperative. Yet, this is a flawed and one-sided narrative. Israel’s military actions, while undoubtedly controversial, are largely driven by its need to defend itself from Hamas—a terrorist organization that, again, is supported by Italy’s new economic partner, Qatar.

The decision to halt arms exports to Israel also puts Italy at odds with the broader international community. While countries like Belgium and Spain have made similar moves, major players like the United States continue to supply Israel with the military aid needed to defend itself against Hamas and Hezbollah. Italy’s decision creates a dangerous imbalance, potentially delegitimizing Israel’s ability to protect itself while simultaneously emboldening its enemies.

Italy’s arms exports to Israel are relatively small compared to other nations, but the political significance of the decision marks a shift in the diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries.

UNIFIL’s Failures and Hezbollah’s Free Rein in Lebanon

This recent diplomatic shift becomes even more troubling when viewed in the context of Italy’s role in Lebanon, specifically its involvement with the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL). Italy has been a major contributor to UNIFIL, which is tasked with maintaining peace along the Israel-Lebanon border and ensuring that Hezbollah remains disarmed. However, there have been mounting revelations about UNIFIL’s inability—or unwillingness—to carry out its mandate.

A former UN peacekeeper revealed to the Jerusalem Post that UNIFIL forces in southern Lebanon were heavily restricted by Hezbollah. The peacekeepers had limited freedom of movement and couldn’t patrol at night due to fear of the group. They were often obstructed from monitoring Hezbollah’s activities and, even when they reported violations of UN Security Council Resolution 1701, no action was taken. The soldier also noted Hezbollah’s deepening control in the region, highlighting the ineffectiveness of UN operations in curbing the group’s influence. This has led to increasing suspicions that the international force, far from disarming Hezbollah, is providing cover for the group to rearm and prepare for future confrontations with Israel. These actions stand in stark contrast to Italy’s stated commitment to peace and stability in the region.

By cutting off arms sales to Israel while doing little to address the growing threat posed by Hezbollah—supported by Iran and backed indirectly by Qatar—Italy is failing to confront the true aggressors in the region. Hezbollah, much like Hamas, has a singular goal: the destruction of Israel. Italy’s failure to address this reality only emboldens such groups, making the region less stable and more prone to conflict.

Hypocrisy and Regional Destabilization

Italy’s hypocrisy in its dealings with Israel and Qatar cannot be overlooked. On one side, it positions itself as a responsible global actor, concerned with humanitarian issues and international law by halting arms exports to Israel. On the other side, it eagerly signs defense cooperation agreements with Qatar, a state whose involvement in regional instability—through its support of Hamas—is undeniable. This double standard not only weakens Italy’s diplomatic standing but also sends a dangerous message to the international community: that political posturing take precedence over moral clarity.

Moreover, the timing of these agreements with Qatar is particularly concerning given the ongoing controversy surrounding UNIFIL’s failures in Lebanon. Italy’s complicity in this ineffective peacekeeping operation only adds to the sense that the country is turning a blind eye to the true causes of instability in the Middle East. By failing to disarm Hezbollah and ignoring Qatar’s role in funding terrorism, Italy is contributing to the very violence it claims to want to stop.

A Policy in Need of Coherence

What Italy needs now is a coherent and principled foreign policy, one that does not sacrifice its moral responsibilities for short-term political gains. The government’s arms embargo on Israel is a misguided attempt at virtue signaling, one that overlooks the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and the very real threats posed by groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. At the same time, its burgeoning relationship with Qatar raises serious ethical concerns about Italy’s willingness to partner with a state that directly contributes to the destabilization of the region.

If Italy is truly committed to peace in the Middle East, it must reassess both its arms embargo on Israel and its agreements with Qatar. The current approach is not only hypocritical but also dangerously short-sighted, ignoring the root causes of the conflict and emboldening those who seek to perpetuate violence. Italy cannot claim to be a force for good in the region while simultaneously aligning itself with the very actors responsible for the instability it professes to oppose.

In summary, Italy’s foreign policy is veering into dangerous territory. For Rome, Middle East policy has long been a sore spot, reminiscent of the notorious Lodo Moro—an agreement with terrorists to prevent attacks on Italian soil. Sadly, this history of compromise and inconsistency remains the only constant in Italy’s foreign policy today.

About the Author
Giuseppe Levi Pezzulli ("Bepi") is a Solicitor specializing in international law and a foreign policy scholar. His key research focuses on analyzing the shifting world order in response to global events such as Brexit and the Abraham Accords. In 2018, he published "An Alternative View of Brexit"(Milano Finanza Books), exploring the economic and geopolitical implications of Brexit. In 2023, he followed up with "Brave Bucks" (Armando Publishing House), analyzing the role of venture capital in the industrial policies of the UK and Israel. Formerly Editor-in-Chief of La Voce Repubblicana, he is also a columnist for the financial daily Milano Finanza, a pundit for CNBC, and the Middle East analyst for Longitude magazine. He holds degrees from Luiss Guido Carli (LLB), New York University (LLM), and Columbia University (JD). In 2024, he stood for a seat in the UK Parliament.
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