Italy to maintain embassy to Israel in Tel Aviv: envoy

UNITED NATIONS, Dec. 8 (Xinhua) -- Italian envoy to the United Nations told the Security Council on Friday that Italy will maintain its embassy to Israel in Tel Aviv.

"We believe that the status of Jerusalem as the future capital of two States needs to be negotiated between Israel and Palestine, within the framework of a peace process that will eventually lead to the establishment of two States, living side by side in peace and security," said Sebastiano Cardi, Permanent Representative of Italy to the United Nations, at a Security Council meeting on Jerusalem.

"Until that moment, Italy will continue to abide by the relevant United Nations resolutions and will maintain its Embassy to Israel in Tel Aviv," he noted.

"Following the recent declarations on Jerusalem by the President of the United States, Italy joined other seven members of the Security Council in requesting this meeting," he said.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced Wednesday his official recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital and instructed moving the U.S. embassy in Israel from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem. The move triggered wide criticism and concerns around the world.

Eight Security Council members -- Bolivia, Egypt, France, Italy, Senegal, Sweden, the UK and Uruguay -- called for an emergency meeting in the wake of Trump's unilateral announcement on Jerusalem.

"Italy's position on Jerusalem remains unchanged. It continues to be consistent with that expressed by the European Union and with the international consensus based on the relevant United Nations resolutions," the Italian envoy noted.

"We are now very concerned by the risk of unrest and tensions in the region. We call on all actors in Palestine and in the Middle East to show responsibility, exercise restraint and refrain from any form of violence or incitement."

Echoing UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres' statement, Cardi reaffirmed that "there is no alternative to the two-State solution."

"Italy reiterates its commitment to working to that aim, together with the members of the European Union and other regional and international partners, and to contributing to the resumption of a meaningful peace process," he said. Enditem