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Italian Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani on Tuesday condemned Israeli National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s description of Italy as a “flip-flop country,” calling the remark unacceptable and unworthy of a government minister.
Tajani made the comments during a joint session of the Italian Senate’s foreign affairs and defense committees, a day after Ben-Gvir reacted to an investigation opened by the Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office into the alleged mistreatment of the Global Sumud Flotilla activists.
“I cannot find the words to comment on what Ben-Gvir said about Italy yesterday,” Tajani said. “These are unacceptable remarks, and we return them to their sender. They are not words befitting a minister.”
Ben-Gvir used the phrase in a post on the U.S.-based social media platform X, making a reference to Italy’s boot-like geographical shape.
“The boot country has turned into a flip-flop country,” he wrote after learning of the investigation.
Tajani said Italy had always defended freedom and democracy and remained a friend of Israel.
“Italy is a country that has always defended freedom and democracy and is a friend of Israel,” he said. “We reject every attempt at insult and defamation.”
He said Ben-Gvir’s comments reflected what he described as the Israeli minister’s political and moral standing.
“Ben-Gvir’s words reveal this person’s political and moral level,” Tajani said.
The Rome Public Prosecutor’s Office added Ben-Gvir to its investigation Monday over allegations that activists from the Global Sumud Flotilla were mistreated.
The investigation followed images and statements connected to events at the Ashdod Port, where activists were being held.
Tajani repeated that he had asked EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas to place a proposal for sanctions against Ben-Gvir on the agenda of the EU Foreign Affairs Council.
He said several countries had responded positively to the proposal.
Among them were France and the Netherlands, Tajani said, adding that he had recently discussed the issue with Dutch and French foreign ministers.
Tajani said French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot agreed on the importance of sending a strong message against a minister who, in his view, was not worthy of representing Israel.
He said it would become clear in the coming days whether the necessary consensus could be reached within Europe, but Italy would continue working toward that goal.
Tajani also said Italy was prepared to consider measures with its European partners against products originating from illegal settlements in Palestine.
He said Rome was waiting for proposals from the European Commission.
Ben-Gvir posted footage on X on May 19 showing Israeli security forces confronting activists held at the Ashdod Port.
The video showed a female activist shouting “Free Palestine” as Ben-Gvir passed.
Israeli police were then seen forcefully restraining the woman and pushing her to the ground.
Ben-Gvir could be heard saying, “This is how it should be done.” The footage and his remarks sparked criticism in Italy.
Following the incident, Israel’s ambassador in Rome was summoned to the Italian Foreign Ministry.
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