"The Sardinians and Sardinia cannot remain silent. Faced with what is happening in Palestine, it is no longer enough to express solidarity. We need a clear political and institutional position ."
Alessandra Todde relaunches the motion tabled by Sinistra futura in the Regional Council, supported by the centre-left majority (PD, M5s, Progressisti, Alleanza Rossoverdi, Uniti per Todde, Orizzonte Comune), which asks that Sardinia suspend all commercial relations with the State of Israel "at least as long as the serious violations underway in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank continue".
"We are not starting from scratch - writes the president -. With a motion approved on October 24, 2024, the Regional Council has already officially recognized the State of Palestine, adhering to the position of over 140 United Nations countries. Our closeness to the Palestinian people is not only ideal, but has also translated over time into concrete paths of cooperation. As the Managing Authority of the European Interreg NEXT MED program, the Sardinia Region has supported numerous projects involving Palestinian civil entities and realities, promoting exchanges and collaborations in the fields of the environment, health, and education. I confirm from now my full commitment and that of the Council to follow up on this political initiative, in the knowledge that Sardinia cannot turn away".
There are already two Italian regions that have suspended relations with Israel: Puglia and Emilia-Romagna.
"The most recent acts of the conflict have worsened an already dramatic humanitarian situation - reads a note from Sinistra Futura - The number of victims has exceeded 60,000 people, with over 120,000 injured, thousands of whom are children. Sardinia, due to its geographical position, history and tradition of hospitality, cannot stand by and watch. We want to do our part with a perspective of peace that puts an end to the massacre of too many civilians".
The motion commits President Todde to "firmly condemn the violations of human rights and international law by the State of Israel, against the Palestinian civilian population, in particular the use of hunger, disease and impediment to humanitarian aid as instruments of war". And again, to "interrupt any relationship of cooperation, exchange or shared planning between the Sardinia Region (including agencies, instrumental bodies, participating companies, academic and research institutions) and the State of Israel, as long as the serious violations ascertained by international institutions continue". To "actively support any international initiative aimed at obtaining a permanent ceasefire in the Gaza Strip and promoting a peace conference in the Mediterranean, also by nominating Sardinia as the host location".
It also provides for the Region to commit to restore the funds dedicated to international cooperation and to establish a specific line of intervention aimed at Palestine . Finally, it is requested to verify in the calls for tenders and in the stipulation of public contracts the presence of goods or services produced by companies involved in the violation of human rights in the territories occupied by Israel and consequently prohibit their purchase.
The document will now have to be placed on the agenda and examined in the Chamber.
(Online Union)