Italy-Palestine Friendship Helps Counter Terrorism - PM Renzi

Enhancing friendly ties between Palestine and Italy is a way to counter terrorism in the region, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi said Wednesday.

RAMALLAH (Sputnik) — Renzi is currently visiting the Middle East. Earlier in the day, he departed Israel and arrived in Palestine to meet President Mahmoud Abbas.

“The friendship between Italy and Palestine… is a tool against terrorism," Renzi said during a joint press conference with Abbas.

Italy is eager to assist with Palestine’s development and hopes for more cooperation, Renzi said, adding that Rome was ready to train Palestinian police.

The two countries should develop cooperation in the sphere of economy and in education, the Italian prime minister added.

Renzi officially invited the Palestinian leader to visit Milan on September 19.

Palestine is seeking the recognition of its independent state. The UN Security Council failed to pass a resolution on Palestinian statehood in 2014, following a United States veto.

The State of Palestine is currently recognized by 135 of the 193 United Nations member states.

Previous Italian governments have stated that Palestinian statehood would undermine stability in the region. But in 2011, the Italian government did not oppose Palestine's UNESCO membership bid, and later voted in favor of a UN resolution to give Palestine non-member observer-state status in the United Nations.