Iran rankled by planned pro-Israel rally in Rome

As Iran worked behind the scenes to express displeasure over a planned pro-Israel rally scheduled to be held in Rome on Thursday, Italian politicians from the left and right have said they were to join the torch-lit event, called to protest remarks by Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in which he called for Israel to be "wiped off the map."

The demonstration was called by Il Foglio, a small conservative newspaper close to Premier Silvio Berlusconi, "to defend the right of Israel to exist."

The paper has said that more than 500 prominent Italians, including politicians from right and left, have backed the demonstration. Italian Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini, who made a two-day official visit to the Palestinian territories and Israel earlier this week, is among those who said he would attend.

A wave of demonstrations in support of Israel swept across Europe Wednesday evening, with protestors gathering in front of Iranian embassies in a number of capitals.

Foreign Minister Gianfranco Fini said Wednesday the international community had to maintain a "firm line" against Tehran, and said he had instructed Toscano to tell the Iranians why "there has been so much indignation and concern" about Ahmadinejad′s remarks in Italy.

Fini has said he would attend Thursday′s pro-Israel rally. He has converted his National Alliance Party from a neo-Fascist to mainstream conservative party, and condemned anti-Semitism during a visit to Israel.

"The problem of security doesn′t only concern Israel, because if Tehran equips itself with a nuclear arsenal, the problem would concern the whole international community," he told reporters.

The pro-Israel rally has split the Italian left, and the Green Party organized a sepa! rate demonstration Wednesday against Ahmadinejad′s remarks in front of the Iranian embassy. Their protest, however, which drew about 20 people, was also called to recognize the rights of Palestinians.

The protest has been preceded by a back and forth between Rome and Tehran over a call by Fini, during a visit to Jerusalem earlier this week, for Iran to be referred to the UN Security Council for possible sanctions on the issue of the Islamic Republic′s nuclear aspirations.

Iran summons Italian ambassador

Italy′s foreign ministry confirmed Wednesday that Ambassador Roberto Toscano had been summoned to the Iranian foreign ministry a day earlier, but did not say why.

The ANSA news agency reported he had been handed a note of protest because of the rally, planned to be held outside theIranian Embassy in Rome.

In a separate meeting Tuesday, Toscano also met with Iranian Vice President Parziv Davoudi. During that meeting, Davoudi called on Toscano "to convey the realities of Iranian society accurately to his government so that Italian officials can adopt stances toward Iran without being influenced by Zionist propaganda," according to Iran′s official Islamic Republic News Agency.

Davoudi also called for Italy′s "active response to the crimes committed by the Zionist regime against Palestinians," IRNA said on its Web site.

Italy has traditionally had good relations with Iran and has in the past pledged to bring Tehr! an closer to the European Union.

Iran considers Rome its prime trading partner in Europe and Italy has a strong presence in Iran′s gas market through Italian oil and gas giant Eni SpA. Davoudi stressed the two countries′ "increasing and long-term cooperation," during the meeting with the Italian ambassador, IRNA said.

Pro-Israel rallies across Europe

In France a demonstration organized by the CRIF umbrella group of French Jewish organizations and the Union of Jewish Students of France (UEJF) gathered near the Iranian embassy in Paris. Protestors chanted out support for Israel and wore stickers reading "Israel est eternel" (Israel is eternal).

Pro-Israel rallies were also held in Vienna, Austria, and Budapest, Hungary, where protestors drew up signs that read "Israel today, Europe tomorrow?"