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Italy's Anti-Israel Opposition Declares 'Victory' After Meloni Suspends Defense Pact

Italy has suspended the automatic renewal of its defense agreement with Israel amid the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran, now 'paused' as a two-week ceasefire holds in order to give a chance for talks.

Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced the significant status change following weeks of tensions over the Israel question, and after other European governments like Spain and France have heaped criticism on Trump's Operation Epic Fury. "The government, considering the situation we are experiencing, has decided to suspend the automatic renewal of the defense agreement with Israel," Meloni said during her latest press briefing in Verona.

File image via Italianismo

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto sent a letter to Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz confirming the suspension of the Italy-Israel memorandum, which governs defense cooperation. The agreement, which has been in effect for many years of the 21st century, oversaw and guided exchange of military equipment and joint technological research between the two countries' armed forces.

According to more background in the NY Times:

The defense accord, ratified in 2005, established cooperation between the two countries in areas including “defense industry and procurement policy,” importing and exporting military equipment, exchanging technical data and other forms of military collaboration. It has been renewed every five years, and was set for another renewal this month.

Opposition parties had put pressure on the government for over a year to suspend the renewal. Marco Grimaldi, an opposition lawmaker, said the decision was “a victory” for those who had protested Israel’s military offensive in Gaza over the last three years.

Like in Spain, much of the Italian public, especially among the younger demographic, sees no benefit in closely aligning Italy with Israel's agenda in the region. And anger and criticism of Israel has been on the rise for years, particularly amid the high civilian casualties of the Gaza war.

In the meantime rising energy costs in Europe from the Hormuz closure have only served to intensify scrutiny of Italy's ban on Russian natural gas imports, imposed after Moscow’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

Responding to calls to revisit Russian gas restrictions, Meloni said, "We must not forget that the economic pressure we have exerted on Russia in recent years is the most effective weapon we have to build peace."

Meloni's relations with Washington have also come under fire, and her Tuesday comments were on the defensive: "When you are friends and allies, particularly strategic ones, you must also have the courage to say when you disagree," she said.

Starting in late March, Italy began blocking some US military aircraft bound for the Middle East from landing at Sigonella Air Base in Sicily. France under Macron has taken some similarly restrictive measures regarding the US military using its airspace related to Iran operations.

Trump has in the recent past said he had been "very shocked" that Meloni has very publicly rejected assisting the United States in the war against Iran, and by her "letting America do all the work" for Italy, "which gets its oil from Iran." Meloni has more recently said it is "unacceptable" for Trump to attack Pope Leo XIV over the Vatican's anti-war stance.

"Do people like her? I can’t believe it," Trump said in a recent interview, adding: "I thought she had courage. I was wrong."

Tyler Durden Wed, 04/15/2026 - 02:45

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After Orbán Loss, Polish MEP Warns EU Set To "Subjugate Everything And Everyone" As VDL Moves Quickly To Abolish Veto Power

Via Remix News,

On the back of Péter Magyar’s victory in Hungary, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says the EU needs to work on getting rid of member states’ veto powers.

For many who backed Viktor Orbán, one of their greatest fears was exactly what von der Leyen is now advancing: an unconstrained EU able to take action on foreign policy, health, and migration without the threat of a veto.

It is widely assumed that the incoming prime minister of Hungary will seek a fast resolution of Brussels’ key issues with Hungary in order to unlock some €35 billion in funding. While Magyar is still seen as right of center and has already insisted border protection will remain a top priority, he has also made it clear that he will work to build a more constructive relationship with Brussels and make Hungary more a part of the European community.

One way Viktor Orbán previously served as a constant thorn in the side of other member states was via use of the veto power, namely to block aid to Ukraine and sanctions on Russia.

Over the past four years, Hungary’s constant blocking of EU measures drove many to suggest a move to qualified majority voting.

Now, with Magyar’s win and Orbán gone, von der Leyen says the “momentum” is here to make that move.

“Moving to qualified majority voting in foreign policy is an important way to avoid systemic blockages, as we have seen in the past,” she said.

She urged governments, which would have to agree to any change, to “use the momentum now,” she told press yesterday.

She also made it clear that “Hungary is coming back to the European path.”

One conservative Polish MEP from the New Hope party posted her reaction that the Commission president was losing no time in burying member state rights to oppose EU initiatives.

“For the EU’s pseudo-elites, it’s secondary whether the new Hungarian government of Orbán will buy fewer raw materials from Russia or quickly rubber-stamp the next sanctions. The main goals of the Eurocrats are different—barely have the elections wrapped up, and the EC President is already champing at the bit to push the topic of abolishing the veto right for Poland in foreign policy matters,” wrote Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik.

Szybko poszło❗ Von der Leyen właśnie ogłosiła, że po wyborach na Węgrzech trzeba zlikwidować prawo weta w polityce zagranicznej UE❗ Proszę o UDOSTĘPNIANIE i nagłaśnianie 🔄

"Naprawdę powinniśmy wykorzystać ten impet, żeby ruszyć naprzód w tym temacie" - podkreśliła szefowa… pic.twitter.com/jIjRy24ai5

— Ewa Zajączkowska-Hernik (@EwaZajaczkowska) April 13, 2026

“Subjugate everything and everyone, create mechanisms that turn countries like Poland into just another insignificant province. All wrapped in the sweet packaging of delightful slogans about unity with everyone,” she added, emphasizing the importance of future member state elections.

Read more here...

Tyler Durden Wed, 04/15/2026 - 02:00

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The celebrity chef was seen greeting and briefly embracing the brothers during UFC 327 at Kaseya Center in Miami on April 11, an event that also drew high-profile attendees including President Trump.

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