(14 Jan 2025)
RESTRICTION SUMMARY:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Rome, Italy – 14 January 2025
1. Italian and Israeli foreign ministers Antonio Tajani and Gideon Sa’ar arriving at Villa Madama for press conference
2. SOUNDBITE (English) Gideon Sa’ar, Israeli Foreign Minister:
"Israel is a democracy, in a democracy you can protest, you can demonstrate, you can oppose. Eventually, in a democracy, you decide by a majority against minority. I believe that if we will achieve this hostage deal, we will have a majority in the government that will support the agreement. So this is the simple answer. I believe, I know there is a true willingness from our side to reach an agreement. I know the political system in Israel, I know there is a majority in the government that support the agreement and I hope we will reach the agreement."
3. Wide of press conference
4. SOUNDBITE (English) Gideon Sa’ar, Israeli Foreign Minister:
"We are negotiating a gradual deal. The first step will be implemented during 42 days. And during those 42 days, if a deal will be achieved, we will start to negotiate a little bit more than two weeks after the beginning on the second phase, which will be, of course, more complicated."
5. Mid of Sa’ar and Tajani listening to question
6. SOUNDBITE (Italian) Antonio Tajani, Italian Foreign Minister:
"This meeting plays a very important role, because I hope that we can finally be close to a ceasefire in Gaza after the ceasefire in Lebanon. Israel is a friendly country of Italy. On October 21, I went on a mission for the fourth time since taking office as foreign minister and today’s meeting confirms our closeness and our willingness to maintain frequent contacts with the Israeli government. In the next few days I will be back in Israel and Palestine to continue working for peace."
7. Tajani and Sa’ar shaking hands
8. Tajani and Sa’ar leaving at end of press conference
9. Tilt up from media to ceiling of Villa Madama
STORYLINE:
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar told journalists in Rome on Tuesday that he believes a deal on releasing the remaining hostages would diminish any Israeli resistance to a potential ceasefire with Hamas.
He was asked about Israeli protests against a deal after meeting with his Italian counterpart Antonio Tajani.
“I believe that if we will achieve this hostage deal, we will have a majority in the government that will support this agreement,’’ Sa’ar said.
“There is true willingness on our side to reach an agreement.”
Tajani said he would travel in the coming days to Israel and the Palestinian territories to support efforts to achieve peace in the Middle East.
“I hope that we are finally close to a cease-fire in Gaza, after the Lebanon cease-fire,’’ Tajani said.
Earlier on Tuesday, mediators the United States, Qatar and Egypt said that Israel and Hamas were at the “closest point” yet to sealing a deal that would bring them a step closer to ending 15 months of war.
Officials said Hamas has accepted a draft agreement for a ceasefire.
An Israeli official said progress has been made but details were being finalized.
The three-phase plan would need Israeli Cabinet approval.
At the Rome press conference, Sa’ar said the deal being negotiated would be "gradual."
"The first step will be implemented during 42 days. And during those 42 days, if a deal will be achieved, we will start to negotiate a little bit more than two weeks after the beginning on the second phase, which will be, of course, more complicated."
AP video shot by: Silvia Stellacci
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