Israeli-Italian relations

The Israeli-Italian relations include external relations between Israel and Italy . Italy recognized Israel on February 8, 1949. Italy has an embassy in Israel, in Tel Aviv , two consulates general in West and East Jerusalem and 4 honorary consulates (in Beersheba , Eilat , Haifa and Nazareth ). Israel has an embassy in Rome. The first Italian ambassador to Israel was Carlo Gasparini, who started in 1949. The current ambassador is Francesco Maria Talò.

history

Israel was recognized by Italy on February 8, 1949 .

Relations between Italy and Israel remain strong, with frequent diplomatic exchanges and a large volume of trade. The Israeli government has closely followed the fight against international terrorism pursued by the Italian government (also in the European arena: the decision of Riva del Garda to add Hamas to the European list of terrorist organizations). It also recognized what the Italian Presidency has done within the United Nations on Middle East issues. Israel also welcomed the coherent and firm line of behavior, contrasting the emergence of anti-Semitism in every possible form by the Italian government.

Cultural exchange

Italian culture enjoys a high status among Israelis, who frequently visit Italy for education, work, tourism, and academic and artistic exchanges. In the past decade, 105 books by Italian authors have been translated from Italian to Ivrit (Modern Hebrew). A strong community of Italian Jews who made Aliyah Israel have strengthened cultural ties and promoted Italian culture in the country. The Italian Cultural Institute recently initiated and organized a series of activities at the Cultural Center of Jews of Libyan Origin in Or Yehuda, where an Italian language course has recently started.

The Italian Embassy and the Italian Cultural Institute recently proposed the creation of an Association of Friends of Italy (“Amitei Italia”), which will consist of more than 15,000 people. In 2004 the negotiations on the new Triennial Protocol (2004–2007) of the bilateral agreement in the cultural sector, in force since November 1971. The Italian Cultural Institute has been active in Israel since 1960 with its headquarters in Tel Aviv and a separate area in Haifa. The Italian language is taught in various centers across the country. The total number of students studying in centers under the direct control of the Italian Cultural Institute in 2004 reached 1500 in 150 courses with 30 teachers. When the Dante Alighieri Society courses are taken into account, the number reaches 2500 students.

Recently, the possibility of introducing the teaching of the Italian language in various high schools and academic institutes in Israel was successfully negotiated. For the academic year 2005-2006, the Italian Cultural Institute in Tel Aviv opened three academic courses in Italian culture and language at the Interdisciplinary Center in Herzliya. Italian is taught at four of Israel's seven universities, and Israeli students study medicine, law, science, politics, architecture, and the arts in Italian universities.