Middle East, Tajani summons G7 ministers. “Avoid war in extremis” –

“We are on maximum alert to defend ourselves in the air, at sea and on land. We are preparing for any sudden threat.” It is the spokesman for the Israeli army, Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, who sums up the atmosphere in Israel, where the Iranian retaliation promised by Tehran after the killing of the political leader of Hamas Ismail Haniyeh is expected at any moment. Sources to the Wall Street Journal revealed that Iran has rejected all requests for moderation advanced by Arab diplomats and remains willing to strike even if this were to cause a war in the region. The only unknown is when Tehran and its Lebanese ally Hezbollah will strike. Well-informed US media have speculated on an imminent attack, perhaps as early as tomorrow.

In the event that a wider conflict could erupt in the region, Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has called together his counterparts from the G7 countries to “agree on a political and diplomatic action that in extremis can avoid a military clash”. At the end of the video-link meeting, Tajani said: “We invite the parties involved to desist from any initiative that could hinder the path of dialogue and moderation and favor a new escalation”, according to a note in which the need to continue negotiations for a ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and the release of the hostages was reiterated.

The parties, however, appear to be preparing more for a conflict than for negotiations. The Israeli broadcaster Channel 14 reported that Russia has begun to equip Iran with new weapons including “advanced electronic warfare systems” and Iskander missiles. Israel, on the other hand, has set up an underground bunker in Jerusalem, where senior leaders could take refuge in the event of war. Tensions are so high that after the United States and the United Kingdom, France and Saudi Arabia have also called on their citizens to leave Lebanon immediately. An appeal also shared by Minister Tajani who asked Italians in the country to “absolutely not travel to the South and to return to Italy on commercial flights as soon as possible”.