Most Italians do not see
Europe as being at war with Islam after this month's terrorist
attacks in Paris, but a sizable minority do, according to a poll
released on Friday.
Some 58% of Italians reject the notion of Europe has
started hostilities following the attacks in which 130 people
died, including 28-year-old Italian doctoral student Valeria
Solesin, and 45% say that Islam has not opened hostilities with
Europe either, according to the Ixé survey for RAI television.
Around 39% of Italians, on the other hand, say they
believe that, after the Paris attacks, Islam is at war with
Europe and 34% say they believe Europe has started a war against
Islam.
Some 76% of Italians say their attitudes to Islam are
unchanged after the Paris terror attacks, arguing that "one must
not generalise".
Only 22% of people polled said they have become more
diffident to Islam.
Around 47% of Italians favour Italian military action
against ISIS but only as part of an international coalition,
according to the Ixè survey.
Some 18% would support a unilateral Italian attack on ISIS
while 32% say it is best to stay out and 3% said they don't
know.
Premier Matteo Renzi's government has ruled out Italy
taking part in direct action in Syria, but said it is increasing
the number of Italian troops engaged in training in Iraq to
contribute to the fight against ISIS.
Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni said Friday that Italy
and France were "discussing possible further forms of
cooperation" in the fight against ISIS.
"We are studying forms of further collaboration," he said,
adding "we see absolutely eye to eye, as was shown yesterday" at
a meeting in Paris between Renzi and President Francois
Hollande.
On Friday Renzi met United States Vice President Joe Biden
in Rome.
Renzi and Biden saw eye to eye on the current troubled
geopolitical situation, especially as regards Syria and Libya,
sources said after the talks.
The meeting at Villa Taverna, the official residence of
the US ambassador, lasted about an hour, the sources said.
They added that the encounter took place in an "excellent
atmosphere" and that Biden expressed "great praise" of Renzi and
Italy's commitment to the international coalition against terror
and ISIS.
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