Tajani blasts unbearable settler violence in West Bank

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 22 - Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Thursday that violence by Israeli settlers against Palestinians in the West Bank has become "unbearable".
    "The whole West has told Israel to beware of extremist settlers who behave with a violence in the West Bank that is unbearable," Tajani told an ANSA forum. Tajani recently said that Israel's response to the October 7 massacres by Hamas has become disproportionate because it is causing too many civilian victims in Gaza.
    Tajani also reiterated that he considered the Russian authorities responsible for the death in custody of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.
    "One can die at the hands of a killer or by death that has been caused," he said.
    "Whether it is caused directly or not, it is still homicide. The Kremlin bears a huge responsibility".
    Deputy Premier, Transport Minister and League leader Matteo Salvini caused controversy on Tuesday when he said it is up to judges and medical professionals to determine what caused the death of Navalny.
    Tajani also stressed that, while Italy is not at war with Russia, it will help the effort to prevent Moscow's invasion of Ukraine from succeeding.
    "We are working for peace and to prevent a Russian victory," the minister told the forum.
    "We want a just peace, which means respect for international law and the liberation of Russian-occupied territory.
    "We hope that negotiations can be brought about, but we cannot give up on the defence of freedom and international law.
    "We are not at war with Russia".
    (see related story on Tajani) (ANSA).