Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman arrived in Rome Monday, the first stage of a European tour that is the first official trip abroad by a member of the new right-wing government.
Lieberman is bidding to ease tensions with the EU after Brussels said it might freeze a planned upgrade in relations unless the new government endorses a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.
He is also expected to argue that Iran threatens the wider world and not just Israel.
Lieberman met Rome Mayor Gianni Alemanno Monday before heading to the foreign ministry for talks with Foreign Minister Franco Frattini.
He will confer with Premier Silvio Berlusconi on Tuesday.
After Rome, the ultranationalist settler who took office in March after February's general election is set to visit Paris, Berlin and Prague - which currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency.
Lieberman has said that if the EU carries out its threat to suspend the upgrade it risks losing its role as broker in the peace process.
The two-state solution was recently reaffirmed by US President Barack Obama and Israeli President Shimon Peres is visiting the US this week to calm US concerns.
