Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Shamir has sent a warm message of congratulations to Oscar Luigi Scalfaro on his election as Italy’s new president.
Israel is, indeed, pleased. A source at the Israeli Embassy here pointed out that Scalfaro, a veteran Christian Democrat, was the first president of the friendship association established between the Israeli and Italian parliaments last year right after the Persian Gulf War.
As president of the association, Scalfaro visited Israel in January and met Shamir.
The new Italian chief of state is a devout Catholic and devoted to the cult of Mary. But apparently he is strongly tolerant of those who do not share his faith.
In his inaugural address last Friday, Scalfaro stressed that freedom of conscience is one of the basic tenets of democracy and that he respects all religions and beliefs.
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