Italy - The Speaker of the Senate links antisemitism and anti-zionism

Renato Schifani

The Speaker of the Senate, Renato Schifani, has claimed that "there are still too many ambiguous voices being heard, among intellectuals and in the media, over the legitimacy of the existence of the State of Israel". Mr. Schifani grabbed the opportunity to renew support for Israel at the inauguration of a photographic exhibition named 'Israel - 60 Years' held at the Senate Library in Piazza della Minerva. During a recent visit to Auschwitz, Mr. Schifani said that "we are all Israelis". Mr. Schifani made the point that behind the anti-Zionism which argues against the birth of the State of Israel are the seeds of the antisemitism which gave rise to the death camps. "My words", said the Senate Speaker, referring to his visit to Auschwitz, "have looked to some people like an unnecessary confusion between the Holocaust-hit Jewish people and the State of Israel. "My intention, on the other hand", continued Mr. Schifani, "was to link the two threads of this awful story, denouncing the trend of residual anti-Semitism, which still thrives in some - although luckily few - European societies, hiding behind a mask of anti-Zionism". "Anti-Zionism does not apply to those who criticise single aspects of Israeli policy, but to the non-recognition of the right of Israel to exist", he clarified, expressing appreciation for the fact that "the great majority of political forces agree on broad-based solidarity with Israel, the decided repudiation of all violence and extremism and maximum openness to dialogue and other diplomatic negotiations to definitively bring the painful chapter of Palestinian conflict to an end".

Source: www.ansamed.info

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