«It must never be forgotten that our country, Italy, adopted during fascism - in a climate of overall indifference - the ignoble racist laws : the initial chapter of the terrible book of extermination; and that members of the Republic of Salò actively collaborated in the capture, deportation and even massacres of the Jews. An inextinguishable burden of pain, blood, death on which we will never have to lower the veil of silence." The President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella said this during the celebration of Remembrance Day at the Quirinale .
«The deaths of Auschwitz – added the Head of State – continually warn: man's journey proceeds on bumpy and risky roads. This is also demonstrated by the return, in the world, of dangerous cases of anti-Semitism: of prejudice that follows ancient anti-Jewish stereotypes, strengthened by social media without control and without shame".
Furthermore, "the Italian Jewish communities know that Italy is their home and that the Republic, of which they are an integral part, will not tolerate, in any way, threats, intimidation and bullying towards them", added the president.
Then the Head of State spoke about what is happening in the Middle East: «We are witnessing, in the world, a return of anti-Semitism which has recently taken the form of the unspeakable, ferocious anti-Semitic massacre of innocents in the terrorist attack which, in that page of shame for humanity, which occurred on October 7 , did not spare even children, children and even newborns. Image of a gruesome replica of the horrors of the Shoah. We are convinced that the deposits of hatred have been magnified by ruthless, even blasphemous, words and acts."
And, after the words on the Hamas attacks, Mattarella also referred to Israel: «Those who have suffered the vile attempt to erase their people from the earth know that another people cannot be denied the right to a state».
(Unioneonline/lf)
