Despite recent remarks by Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi that angered Italy’s Jews, the Anti-Defamation League decided to go ahead this week with plans to honor the Italian leader.
Berlusconi was set to receive the ADL’s Distinguished Statesman Award at a “Salute to Italy” dinner Tuesday, which was scheduled to honor the Italian leader for his support for Israel and his efforts in the war on terrorism.
But Jews in Italy are still upset over the prime minister’s remarks in a recent interview.
Last week, Berlusconi met for 90 minutes with Italian Jewish leaders at the city’s Great Synagogue and apologized for telling two British journalists that Italy’s former fascist dictator, Benito Mussolini, was “benign” and that his crimes before and during World War II could not be compared to those of Iraqi President Saddam Hussein.
“Mussolini never killed anyone,” Berlusconi was quoted as saying. “Mussolini sent people on holiday in internal exile.”
During his meeting, Berlusconi also reiterated his strong support for Israel.
ADL national director Abraham Foxman said there was no reason to change the group’s plans to honor Berlusconi, even though the award has caused uneasiness among some Italian Jews.
“A friend is a friend even though he is flawed,” Foxman told JTA from New York.
“Has Berlusconi said things that I am critical of? Yes,” Foxman said. “But he’s America’s friend, Israel’s friend, our friend.”
Berlusconi strongly supported President Bush’s war on terrorism and the war in Iraq. He also has emerged as one of Israel’s closest allies in Europe, winning praise from Israeli leaders.
Italy, which currently holds the presidency of the European Union, was “very instrumental in pushing for the recent European decision to declare Hamas a terrorist organization,” Foxman said.
In Italy, Jewish attitudes toward Berlusconi are divided. On the one hand, there is his record of support for Israel and anti-terrorism efforts. On the other hand, Berlusconi’s government coalition includes a right-wing party that was formed out of the neo-fascist movement and another right-wing party notorious for xenophobic positions.
So while there is widespread appreciation of the government’s policy regarding Israel, Jews who oppose the current administration distrust Berlusconi’s sincerity on Jewish issues.
“I saw that announcement of the ADL award and it made my flesh crawl,” said one Jew from Rome who asked not to be named.
Berlusconi has a history of gaffes that have infuriated both allies and opponents during his two years in office. Earlier this summer, he touched off a miniature crisis when he compared a German member of the European Parliament to a guard in a Nazi concentration camp.
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The Archive of the Jewish Telegraphic Agency includes articles published from 1923 to 2008. Archive stories reflect the journalistic standards and practices of the time they were published.
