Israel PM, ministers heading to Italy

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and nine Israeli ministers are headed to Italy on Sunday for two days of meetings with their Italian counterparts, an Israeli official said. "Netanyahu will leave for Italy this afternoon with nine ministers to take part in joint meetings of the two governments aimed at strengthening bilateral ties," the official said on condition of anonymity. "Netanyahu will hold talks with his counterpart Silvio Berlusconi, which will address recent changes in the Middle East and the peace process," he added. "The framework of joint governmental meetings strengthens bilateral ties and Israel has adopted this formula with Germany and Poland," he said. Speaking to Israeli public radio, Israel's ambassador in Rome Gideon Meir said at least nine bilateral agreements would be signed during the visit. "Important Israeli economic events are also planned in the near future in Italy, particularly in Milan," he said, describing Italy as "one of the few countries that maintain close relations with Israel and the Arab world." Netanyahu is likely to use the trip to raise the issue of a Palestinian plan to seek United Nations recognition and membership in September, but Meir said Rome was "opposed to the principle of UN recognition in September of a Palestinian state on the lines that existed before June 1967."