Mattarella, Meloni meet Israeli President Herzog in Rome

(ANSA) - ROME, JUL 25 - Israeli President Isaac Herzog had meetings with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Premier Giorgia Meloni in Rome on Thursday.
    Mattarella stressed the "great friendship" that exists between Italy and Israel as he welcomed Herzog to Quirinal Palace, the residence of the Italian head of State.
    Deputy Premier and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also took part in the talks.
    Sources said the discussion focused on the need for the release of the hostages taken by Hamas in the October 7 attacks, the respect of humanitarian rights in Gaza, the question of the two-peoples-two-States solution and the need to prevent the current conflict expanding.
    Before the encounter, Tajani told Rtl 102.5 radio that the aim was "to do everything possible to reach a truce between Israel and Hamas so that it is then possible to start the project to build two peoples, two States".
    Meloni then received Herzog at the premier's office at Palazzo Chigi.
    As the Israeli president entered the palace, a group of protesters chanted 'Free Palestine" about 100 metres away.
    (ANSA).