A comparison that goes far beyond the game. Which goes beyond the limits of decency, modesty and respect. For historical truth. An offensive initiative, organized on the symbolic day of a people’s tragedy. Anpi from Bagno a Ripoli, a charming town just a few steps from Florence, had the brilliant idea, together with other people, of comparing the Shoah to the current conflict in Gaza. And present an initiative called “Never again: 80 years ago the extermination of the Jewish people by the Nazis – Today the genocide of the Palestinian people by the State of Israel”. Among the interventions planned at the Antella club (town of Bagno a Ripoli) also that of imam Izzedin Elzir. But at worst, as we know, there is never an end. And so the promoters decided to present the meeting on January 27th. Or on Memorial Day. «The intention is to place the Holocaust on the same level as the current situation in Gaza, ending up in an unacceptable way degrading the memory of the extermination of six million Jews by the Nazi regime – said Kishore Bombaci, president of the Friends of Israel association in Florence -. What the Nazis implemented is unique in history. Mixing this event with the war in Gaza denotes, at the very least, ignorance regarding history and the present, in addition to being a horrendous exploitation of the tragedy of the Jewish people.” “It is surprising – continues Bombaci, but not much – that this perspective is assumed by the ANPI that it probably forgets (or pretends to forget) that the Shoah was a true genocide”.
The fact that there has never been a disagreement between the ANPI and the Israeli world is nothing new. Suffice to say, every April 25th, the Jewish Brigade is always challenged. In particular, in Milan. The deep regret for such a paradoxical choice was also expressed by the exponent of Italia Viva, as well as by the mayor of Bagno a Ripoli, Francesco Casini. «We are disconcerted and in deep and total disagreement about a comparison that unfortunately seems to have the flavor of provocation as an end in itself and above all harms the memory of the victims of the Shoah, certainly not contributing to supporting the cause of Palestinian people.” The Florentine councilor , Emanuele Cocollini, is also critical. «But never again what? We are certainly not surprised by Anpi’s behavior. The truly serious fact is that it was Imam Izzedin Elzir himself who intervened in the event, on the day when as a religious leader he would have the duty to pray for those who were victims of Nazi madness, and certainly not to defend those who today are paying the consequences of an attack resulting from the same madness.”
Yesterday afternoon the note also arrived from Marco Carrai, Israel’s honorary consul for Tuscany, Emilia Romagna and Lombardy. «I would like to remind you that while the Jewish brigade was on the side of the Italian resistance in the fight against anti-fascism, the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem was an ally of Hitler in Palestine and a persecutor of the Jews. Just as historical memory, because that’s what we’re talking about. I hope that all institutions will take a clear and clear stand against this new insult to the memory and the Jewish people.”
Source: IL Tempo
Emma Fitzgerald is an accomplished political journalist and author at The Nation View. With a background in political science and international relations, she has a deep understanding of the political landscape and the forces that shape it.
