The curtain falls on the Sanremo Festival, not on the controversies triggered by the statements that several artists made on the Ariston stage about the war in the Middle East.
«I consider it shameful – states the Israeli ambassador to Italy Alon Bar – that the stage has been used to spread hatred and provocations in a superficial and irresponsible way . In the massacre of October 7, among the 1,200 victims there were over 360 young people murdered and raped during the Nova Music Festival. The Festival could have expressed solidarity with them, it's a shame that this didn't happen."
The RAI CEO distances himself from the singers' various appeals for peace and in favor of the Palestinian people: «Every day – states Roberto Sergio – our news programs and our programs tell the story of the tragedy of the hostages in the hands of Hamas, as well as remembering the massacre of children, women and men on October 7th. My solidarity with the people of Israel and the Jewish community is heartfelt and convinced."
What triggered the controversy in particular was a phrase pronounced on the final evening by Ghali, "Stop the genocide" . The rapper was thanked "for his clear words against extermination" by Mohammad Hannoun, president of the Palestinian association of Italy.
But there have been several appeals in recent days. «No more blood, no more wars. Peace!”, said Eros Ramazzoti. Dargen D'Amico returned to the topic twice: «There are children under the bombs, without water and without food. Our silence is co-responsibility." This appeal is shared by Diodato. «Long live music, long live freedom, long live peace», said Giuliano Sangiorgi. And Mahmood: «Long live differences and freedom of thought always and in any case» .
Ghali yesterday, during Domenica In, was asked about the ambassador's words by a journalist: «I have always spoken about these issues, since I was a child, not since 7 October. I'm sorry you responded this way, there was so much to say. But what else was I supposed to use this stage for? I was a musician before I got on this stage: I've always talked about this since I was a child. The fact that the ambassador speaks like this is not good, the policy of terror continues, people are afraid to say stop the war, stop the genocide, we are living in a moment in which people feel that they are losing something if they say long live the peace".
And politics is divided. Maurizio Gasparri asks Rai for "remedial interventions, taking into account the ambassador's just protests" . FdI senator Lucio Malan underlines that «a music festival is not the right place to talk about an international crisis, especially if it is done in one direction».
For Nicola Fratoianni, however, Ghali's words express "courage and truth" . Angelo Bonelli of the Greens maintains that «those who attack Ghali should question their conscience, Ghali must not apologize but must be applauded».
(Unioneonline/L)
