Libya and Italy to Resume Flights

Head of Libya's Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah and Italy's visiting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shake hands as they exchange a commemorative plaque during the inauguration of the 30th session of the Libyan-Italian Business Forum at the Tripoli Exhibition Center in Tripoli on October 29, 2024. (AFP)
Head of Libya's Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah and Italy's visiting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shake hands as they exchange a commemorative plaque during the inauguration of the 30th session of the Libyan-Italian Business Forum at the Tripoli Exhibition Center in Tripoli on October 29, 2024. (AFP)
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Libya and Italy to Resume Flights

Head of Libya's Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah and Italy's visiting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shake hands as they exchange a commemorative plaque during the inauguration of the 30th session of the Libyan-Italian Business Forum at the Tripoli Exhibition Center in Tripoli on October 29, 2024. (AFP)
Head of Libya's Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah and Italy's visiting Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni shake hands as they exchange a commemorative plaque during the inauguration of the 30th session of the Libyan-Italian Business Forum at the Tripoli Exhibition Center in Tripoli on October 29, 2024. (AFP)

Italy’s Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Tuesday that flights with Libya will resume next year.

Italy’s national carrier ITA Airways will resume the flights in early 2025, she revealed during a visit to Libya - her fourth in 18 months.

Along with head of the Government of National Unity (GNU) Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, she took part in the opening of the 30th session of the Libyan-Italian Business Forum in the capital Tripoli.

Speaking at the event, she said relations with Libya were a “priority” and that they haven’t reached their highest levels yet.

She stressed that her government was seeking to restore some cooperation projects that were signed with Libya years ago and that it wanted to explore more opportunities for cooperation.

For his part, Dbeibah underscored the importance of bolstering the fruitful bilateral cooperation with Italy, noting that relations have witnessed great development in recent months.

He confirmed that Italy will resume flights to Libya next year.

He also expressed his delight with what he called positive progress in reviving the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation that has been suspended for 14 years.

The GNU and Italian government signed seven agreements on the sidelines of the Libyan-Italian Business Forum covering trade, civil aviation, finance and health.

Meloni said Italy will remain committed to supporting Libya achieve sustainable economic development.

She noted that trade between Italy and Libya doubled in the past two years, adding that her fourth visit to Tripoli is important in developing relations between the two countries and reaching higher levels of partnership in all fields.

Several Libyan and Italian companies are taking part in the Tripoli forum to bolster trade between them.



Independent Israeli Commission Blames Netanyahu and Others for October 2023 Attack

A protester walks between vehicles as people protest demanding the release of hostages who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, ahead of a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 26, 2024. (Reuters)
A protester walks between vehicles as people protest demanding the release of hostages who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, ahead of a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 26, 2024. (Reuters)
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Independent Israeli Commission Blames Netanyahu and Others for October 2023 Attack

A protester walks between vehicles as people protest demanding the release of hostages who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, ahead of a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 26, 2024. (Reuters)
A protester walks between vehicles as people protest demanding the release of hostages who were kidnapped during the deadly October 7, 2023 attack, ahead of a possible ceasefire deal between Israel and Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, in Tel Aviv, Israel, November 26, 2024. (Reuters)

The independent civilian commission of inquiry into the October 2023 Hamas attack on Israel has found Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu directly responsible for the failures leading up to the attack, alongside former defense ministers, the army chief and the heads of the security services.

The civil commission presented its findings today after a four-month probe in which it heard some 120 witnesses. It was set up by relatives of victims of the Hamas attack, in response to the absence of any state probe.

The commission determined that the Israeli government, its army and security services “failed in their primary mission of protecting the citizens of Israel.”

It said Netanyahu was responsible for ignoring “repeated warnings” ahead of Oct. 7, 2023 for what it described as his appeasing approach over the years toward Hamas, and for “undermining all decision-making centers, including the cabinet and the National Security Council, in a way that prevented any serious discussion” on security issues.

The commission further determined that the military and defense leaders bear blame for ignoring warnings from within the army, and for reducing the army’s presence along the Gaza border while relying excessively on technological means.

On the day of the Hamas attack, the report says, the army’s response was both slow and lacking.

The civil commission called for the immediate establishment of a state commission of inquiry into the Oct. 7 attack.

Netanyahu has opposed launching a state commission of inquiry, arguing that such an investigation should begin only once the war is over.