Unofficial transcript 
Agenda item 37 “Question of Palestine”, November 29, 2012

ITALY:  Thank you, Mr. President.  In accordance with the longstanding position of European Union, Italy is strongly committed to the comprehensive negotiated peace with Israelis and Palestinians.  It is a fundamental interest of the European Union as well of the parties in the region.
Our strong support of our Palestinian state building efforts and excellent bilateral relations with both parties are grounded in the firm conviction that a comprehensive peace must and can be achieved on the basis of a two-state solution with the state of Israel and a sovereign, democratic, contiguous and viable state of Palestine, both living in agreed borders and enjoying peace and security.  
Italy stands by its conviction that such an agreement can only be reached through bilateral negotiations and strongly supports the European Union's call to all parties to pursue actions conducive to an environment of confidence necessary to ensure meaningful negotiations and to refrain from actions that undermine the credibility of the process.
Italy has decided to vote in favor of this resolution.  We took the decision in the light of the input we received from President Abbas on the constructive approach he intends to follow after this vote.  I am referring particularly to the readiness to resume direct negotiations without preconditions and to refrain from looking for membership to other specialized UN agencies in the presence circumstances or pursuing the ICC jurisdiction.  
Regarding the latter, Italy would not accept instrumental actions meant to put to the question of Israel an unalienable right to self-defense and to have recourse to the measures needed to protect the lives of its citizens.  
We also wish to underline our firm conviction that the new status for the Palestinian Authority should not under any circumstances be applied retrospectively.  Italy stresses that today's vote in no way prejudges its commitment to the comprehensive negotiated peace settlement, which remains the only path to Palestinian statehood and the full UN membership.  
I wish to conclude, Mr. President, by restating Italy's unwavering support for a negotiated two-state solution based on the relevant UN Security Council resolutions, the Madrid principles, the roadmap, the agreement previously reached by the parties, and the Arab peace initiative.  Thank you, Mr. President.