Italy has informed Israel of its opposition to the appointment as Israeli ambassador in Rome of the mayor of one of the largest Jewish settlements in the occupied West Banka diplomatic source said today.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry nominated Benny Kasriel, mayor of Maale Adumim, in Julynear Jerusalem, to succeed Alon Barr, a career diplomat who is expected to retire in the summer of 2024.

Benny Kasriel, 72, has been mayor since 1992 of this Jewish settlement of nearly 40,000 and heads the local branch of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s right-wing Likud party.

Between 1999 and 2001, Kasriel also chaired the Yesha Council, an organization representing Jewish settlements built on Palestinian land.

“His experience and unique abilities will help advance cooperation between our two nations in matters of security and regional stability, but also in matters of economy and energy”Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen had said, announcing Kasriel as the new ambassador of the Jewish state to Italy.

Israel has not submitted a formal request for accreditationbut, since then, the Italian authorities have sent a series of messages indicating that they consider this appointment inappropriate, a diplomatic source told AFP, confirming reports.

The Israeli Foreign Ministry declined to comment on the matterfollowing a question from AFP.

The Italian far-right government of the prime minister Georgia Meloni supports Israel in its war against Hamas in the Gaza Stripa war that broke out after the Palestinian Islamic Movement attacked southern Israel on October 7.

However Rome is also in favor of a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and considers Jewish settlements in Palestinian territories – occupied by Israel since 1967 and considered illegal by the United Nations – to be an obstacle to peace.

This two-state solution “must comply with the parameters set by international law and Security Council resolutions” of the UN, said Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, after Hamas attacks of October 7.