Italian Authorities Act Against Anti-Semitic Online Campaign
Italian officials have taken decisive action against an anonymous online initiative that urged people to report the locations of Israeli tourists, local Jews, and businesses linked to Zionism. This campaign received strong backlash from government leaders and Jewish organizations, who likened it to past persecutions during the fascist era.
Walker Meghnagi, the president of the Jewish Community of Milan, expressed deep concern, stating, “It feels like we are going back to the 1930s, hunting Jews.” The online form, which spread on social media, claimed to document “Zionist tourism,” property purchases, and what it termed “Zionist neo-colonization” in Italy. Users were asked to identify individuals associated with Judaism or Israeli nationality in various public venues.
Italian Senate President Ignazio La Russa condemned the initiative, calling it a violation of human rights and the core values of Italy. He emphasized that cataloging individuals based on their beliefs or connections to Israel is unacceptable. “What we’re witnessing is a resurgence of anti-Semitism that must be unanimously condemned,” he stated, expressing solidarity with the Jewish community.
The offensive form was removed due to the actions of Gen. Pasquale Angelosanto, Italy’s national coordinator for combating anti-Semitism. Reports suggest that the form aimed to collect information for the Global Sumud Movement, known for its activist efforts around the Gaza Strip. However, the movement denied any knowledge of the initiative, asserting they did not commission it and were completely unaware of its existence until the backlash arose.
Meghnagi warned that compiling such information could lead to increased targeting of Jews and Israelis by extremists. He remarked, “Mapping where Jews are located is extremely serious and can have dangerous consequences.”
Alessandro Morelli, an Italian deputy secretary of state, criticized the initiative as “abhorrent,” stressing that those responsible should face consequences.
