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Silvio Berlusconi, who has died at 86, wanted Israel to join the European Union

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Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi (left) is welcomed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the latter's office in Jerusalem on 1 February, 2010.

Under his premiership, Israel had become one of Israel’s strongest allies in Europe. His efforts to strengthen ties with Israel followed decades of a pro-Arab tilt by previous Italian governments. "My greatest desire, as long as I am a protagonist in politics, is to bring Israel into membership of the European Union,” said former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi as he visited Israel in February 2010.

Berlusconi, who died on Monday (12 June) at 86, was considered a true friend of Israel. Under his premiership, Israel had become one of Israel’s strongest allies in Europe. His efforts to strengthen ties with Israel followed decades of a pro-Arab tilt by previous Italian governments.

“Not every day do we get the privilege to host one of Israel’s greatest friends, a brave leader who is a great fighter for freedom and an enthusiastic supporter of peace,” said Israeli Prime Minin uster benjamin as he welcomed Berlusconi in Jerusalem in 2010.

The former Italian premier,  a billionaire businessman who created Italy’s largest media company before transforming his country’s political landscape with his Forza Italia party, was Italy’s longest-serving prime minister.

He frequently stressed his support for Israel and Jewish causes and his “role as a longtime friend of the Jewish people and the state of Israel, which is and remains a unique defense of freedom and democracy throughout the Middle East”.

“I was deeply saddened by the passing of Silvio Berlusconi, the former Prime Minister of Italy. My heartfelt condolences go out to his family and to the people of Italy,” Prime Minister Netanyahu said Monday in a statement. “Silvio was a great friend of Israel and stood by us at all times. Rest in peace my friend.”

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