Italy FM scolds IRIB for Berlusconi-Israel report

The Italian foreign minister has slammed an Iranian radio broadcast that criticized Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s support for Israel’s Gaza offensive last year.

The report on the radio featured an interview with former Italian Senator Fernando Rossi who said Berlusconi and Franco Frattini, the foreign minister, have proven that they are completely subservient to Israel.

In the interview, Ross claimed the last thing the Italian government is focusing on are the Italian people.

Frattini described the report, which was aired by the Italian radio of the IRIB’s external service, as a sign of Iran’s weakness.

On Tuesday, Berlusconi condemned the UN Goldstone report that accuses Israel of war crimes, slamming the UN for trying to incriminate Israel.

In a speech before the Israeli Parliament, Knesset, on Thursday, Berlusconi once again showed support for Israel.

He called Israel as “not only the biggest example of democracy and liberty in the Middle East, but the only example” and said that the security of Israel was “an ethical and moral imperative” for Italians.

IRIB’s report took Italy’s headlines by storm with hundreds of Italian news agencies and newspapers covering the story.

On Thursday alone, 5,000 people visited the radio station’s website, and dozens of people contacted IRIB to commend the report.