He continued, "I saw inside a large yellow garbage can full of bodies. Women, adults, small children, all covered in blood, and they were murdered only because they are Jews and Israelis. During my time in captivity, they tortured me every day and left me with physical and mental scars everywhere. This captivity is not suitable for animals, certainly not for humans. Therefore, I ask you, dear people, to continue the good work for the sake of justice and peace. The October 7 massacre was without a justified reason, and was an inhuman massacre."

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ITALY NOW: Rabbi and Child Attacked for Being Jewish

At an Autogrill in Milan, a rabbi and his little boy were screamed at by a mob yelling "Palestine" slogans.

No Israeli symbols. No politics.

Just a Jew and his son. pic.twitter.com/Ha91adA55P

— Shirion Collective (@ShirionOrg) July 28, 2025

 When attackers demanded the deletion of video footage documenting their assault, the father refused, triggering an escalation into physical violence. The man's defiant response of "Am Yisrael Chai" – expressing solidarity with the Jewish people – came as his terrified son watched the confrontation unfold.

The assault video gained rapid traction across social media platforms. Italian community leaders now warn that such antisemitic incidents are occurring with alarming frequency throughout Europe, particularly since the Gaza war began. They demand meaningful governmental action against the mounting antisemitic tide.

"Is it really 'normal' to attack Jewish citizens?"

Public figures across Italy have delivered sharp rebukes in response to the father-son attack. Davide Romano, who directs the Jewish Brigade Museum, stressed the urgent need to safeguard Milan's international reputation through decisive action against perpetrators. "This assault targeting a French family solely because of their Jewish identity serves as another stark reminder of antisemitism's growth throughout our nation," Romano stated.

Municipal politicians, notably Milan city council member Daniele Nahum, have pressed for institutional accountability and unequivocal condemnation. Nahum questioned whether such attacks have achieved disturbing normalization, asking, "Has attacking Jewish citizens truly become 'normal' due to Gaza events?" She advocated for aggressive responses to halt dangerous antisemitic rhetoric masquerading as legitimate political discourse.

Parliament member Piero Fassino from the Partito Democratico acknowledged antisemitism as a persistent Italian problem, highlighting the troubling global pattern of Jewish scapegoating.

Italian law enforcement continues reviewing gas station security recordings to compile evidence for potential prosecutions.

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Located in Sonnino Square in the vibrant Trastevere district, the bus stop sees thousands of locals and visitors daily. Reports from Italy indicate that ATAC, the public transport authority, quickly directed its contractor to take down the offensive poster and stated it would pursue a police complaint over the act. The city also saw a disturbing mural showing Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu kissing Hitler several weeks ago.

This was spotted in Rome — a Nazi uniform with a Star of David armband.

This isn't "criticism of Israel." This is pure antisemitism.

Comparing Jews to Nazis is vile, dangerous, and dehumanizing.

NEVER AGAIN IS TODAY. pic.twitter.com/QyDXww6h6R

— Hananya Naftali (@HananyaNaftali) July 2, 2025

Victor Fadlun, head of Rome's Jewish community, expressed gratitude for ATAC's rapid response while sounding the alarm on the city's rising antisemitism. "Even with the authorities' efforts, this act reflects a surge in intolerable antisemitism, thriving in a climate tainted by reckless rhetoric and hateful narratives," he said.

Fadlun stressed the Jewish community's resolve, stating, "We will not endure any intimidation or assault on the memory, identity, or honor of the Jewish people. Our vigilance remains unwavering, and we will relentlessly challenge both antisemitic acts and the hatred that fuels them."

He urged, "Faced with such acts, all must unite in defense of democratic principles without wavering. Combating antisemitism is not solely a Jewish struggle – it is a shared duty."

Just days prior, Milan saw similar antisemitic signs declaring, "Israelis not welcome here." Nahum reported that Angela Persici, a local council member, swiftly removed them.

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A brief video circulating widely on social media has highlighted the concerning normalization of overt antisemitism on European streets, demonstrating how the ongoing conflict has emboldened public displays of anti-Jewish sentiment across the continent.

The footage, captured by an Israeli attendee at a vegan food festival in Rome, documents a charged confrontation at a vendor's stall. "You are the disgrace of humanity. How dare you walk these streets? Get your hands off my counter. Leave immediately," the vendor can be heard saying.

Video: X

The Israeli patron, continuing to record the interaction, responds calmly: "I merely mentioned that I'm Israeli, and suddenly you're blaming me for all the world's problems." The vendor's response escalates sharply: "Yes, precisely – I blame you, all Israelis, all Jews. Hitler was right. It's a shame he didn't complete his mission."

Leading Italian newspaper La Repubblica shared the footage on its Instagram platform, reporting that festival organizers promptly removed the vendor from the event. The post garnered hundreds of thousands of views and generated extensive commentary. One user, identified as Daniel, observed: "This perfectly illustrates why anti-Israel sentiment and antisemitism are indistinguishable." Another commenter, Valerio, countered: "While no form of racism or hatred is acceptable, Israel's treatment of Palestinians amounts to pure Nazism."

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As both Italy and Israel elected new governments, ties between the two nations have gotten closer, characterized by economic cooperation and culminating in – at least Israel hopes – the transfer of the Italian embassy to Jerusalem.

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Most recently, for the first time, the Italian parliament's both Chamber of Deputies and the Senate marked Israel's 75th independence, an event attended by Knesset Speaker Amir Ohana. In addition, Israel's Foreign Ministry is working on an invitation of Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to Jerusalem.

"Israel's independence is not to be taken for granted," Ohana said at the event. "We fight every day and every hour against enemies who want to destroy us."

Innovation, Science and Technology Minister Ofir Akunis also visited Italy last week to meet with his counterpart Anna Maria Bernini and innovation leaders, talks that are expected to continue. Italy has recently been granted billions of dollars from the European Union for the purpose of research, and Israel expects an increase in cooperation between Italian and Israeli researchers as well as investments in Israel.

In addition, in March, Italy's Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani visited Jerusalem to meet with Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen. A few days later, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu traveled to Rome as part of an official trip to Europe. During that visit, Netanyahu asked Meloni to consider moving Italy's embassy to Jerusalem.

Sources told Israel Hayom that senior Italian government officials are considering the idea. According to estimates, however, Italy is more likely to open a lower-level diplomatic office in Jerusalem.

Meloni came to power in late 2022 when Israel was led by interim Prime Minister Yair Lapid, who was hesitant to congratulate Italy's new prime minister.

Netanyahu, however, congratulated Meloni immediately upon her election, a warm embrace that might have led to the warming of ties between Jerusalem and Rome.

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Festa delle Luci, the Festival of Lights, is what the Italians call Hanukkah. Other nations use similar names for the holiday that translates from Hebrew as "consecration." The Maharal (Rabbi Judah Loew ben Bezalel) of Prague (16^th Century) teaches us that the candles we light on Hanukkah are testimony to a far greater miracle, the miracle of the victory of the Hasmonean Revolt, seeking independence for our people.

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Antiochus IV Epiphanes, the ruler of the Seleucid Empire, which ruled the Land of Israel at the beginning of the second century BCE, wanted to unify the empire under one (Hellenistic) culture and religion. Jerusalem was desecrated, swine were sacrificed in the temple before a sculpture of Zeus, and the Jewish religious tradition was banned. The revolt erupted in 167 BCE led by Mattathias the Hasmonean, and his five sons, priests from Modiin. The primary goal of the revolt was religious freedom. Mattathias' son, Judah Maccabee (or Makabi from Makebet the Biblical Hebrew word for hammer) achieved that freedom through a series of stunning victories. Some three years after the outbreak of the revolt, Jerusalem was freed almost entirely and the temple was purified. The Hasmoneans celebrated the consecration of the temple for eight days.

However, the empire was not defeated; the threat remained. Judah Maccabee looked for allies. He had heard worm of Rome, then a rising Republic. He sent a delegation of diplomats to the Senate in Rome and in 161BCE, the Roman-Jewish Treaty, a mutual defense alliance, was signed. Judah allowed most of the army on leave to rebuild their homes after seven years of bitter struggle.

His enemies however did not rest. They feared his alliance with Rome. This time they sent General Bachiddes to suppress the revolt. Judah Maccabee who relied primarily on a reserve army was left to face Bachiddes and his legions, numbering over 25,000 men, with just 800 fighters. His army was destroyed and he was killed at the Battle of Elasa in the hills of Beit El. The Hasmonean Revolt was extinguished and its achievements lost. Now the Seleucids were out for revenge and the situation became worse than it had been before the revolt. The Hellenists returned to the temple, hunted down their enemies, and the religious decrees were renewed. Many sought sanctuary in the desert.

Had history continued that way, then it is unlikely that we would still be celebrating Hanukkah. Just as with Bar Kochba about 300 years later, Judah Maccabee was a great worrier and a brilliant general but the revolt failed. There is no reason for celebration.

2.

The rebels chose the youngest of the Hasmoneans, Jonathan Apphus, as their leader and fled to Tkoa in the Judean Desert. Jonathan sent a delegation led by his brother Johanan to the Nabateans on the eastern side of the Jordan River, most likely to ensure the safety of their wives and children. He was relying on a defense treaty that Judah Maccabee had signed with the Nabateans when he was at the height of his powers. The Nabateans however did not uphold their side of the treaty and slaughtered Johanan and all who were with him. That perhaps was the most difficult moment of all: When the rebels received the news of the death of their loved ones. The crisis is a supreme test of leadership. The natural reaction is just to give up. One could also grasp theological explanations: God does not want the revolts. As Rabbi Jose Ben Kisma said hundreds of years later about Rome, "the heavens made this nation rule over us." The Book of Esther states that "all the king's servants that were in the King's gate, bowed and paid reverence to Haman" (Esther 3:2). Our sages interpret servants as the servants of THE King, i.e. of God – which were the spiritual and religious leaders of that time - who accepted the temporary supremacy because that was what the Lord had commanded. The decree of history, they believed, was to grit their teeth and wait until the storm had blown over.

Not Jonathan. He rose from the ashes and swept his soldiers and then the entire nation after him to a war of independence. First, he punished the Nabateans - deterrence has always been a decisive issue in our region. Yosef ben Mattityahu, better known by his Roman name, Titus Flavius Josephus, notes that this action led to a complete turnaround in the situation and many Jews then joined the rebels. Because his army was relatively small, Jonathan chose to fight a guerrilla war and for two years he wore down Bachiddes who eventually had enough of this hornet's nest. The Seleucid general decided to return to Antioch, but not before he released prisoners and rescinded the rights he had given to the Hellenistic priests.

Jonathan Apphus had learned of Judah Maccabee and did not rush to re-consecrate the temple. He set up headquarters at Michmas, some 10 kilometers north of Jerusalem, and over seven years built up an army of 40,000 trained soldiers. (Incidentally, Michmas was where some 800 years earlier another Jonathan, the son of King Saul, saved Israel from the Philistines.)

3.

Only when his army was ready and prepared did he storm Jerusalem on the Sukkot Festival in 152 BCE. He freed the city and purified the temple, and served as High Priest while commanding the army at the same time. In any event, Jonathan's re-consecration of the temple lasted until its destruction in the year 70 BCE. The religious goals of the revolution – annulment of the Seleucid religious decrees – were achieved by Jonathan, not by Judah. Hanukkah, therefore, remains part of our tradition because of Jonathan. He remained faithful to the memory of his brother Judah and retained the original dates for the festival.

From Dr. Hagai Ben-Artzi, I learned that Jonathan drew another conclusion from his brother's failure. On the face of it, the goals had been achieved, the temple had been re-consecrated, the Hellenists were expelled and the religious decrees annulled. However, Jonathan did not disperse his army; he made it larger and stronger. In addition, in the nine years that followed, he liberated the rest of the country. He understood that freedom of religion was not enough. The goal he aspired to was to free the land from the yoke of its foreign occupiers.

That was the will and testimony of Moses. He repeated it in his speech before his death. "For you will cross over the Jordan and go in to possess the land which the LORD your God is giving you, and you will possess it and dwell in it" (Deut. 11:31). One can dwell in the land and settle there and carry out the religious commandments under the foreign rulers. Moses did not make do with this. Instead, he commands the People of Israel to take over the land as a possession. It is an act that only a collective can carry out through the establishment of a kingdom and the imposition of sovereignty of the people over the land. That is how Nachmanides, the Ramban, saw it in the 13th century: "We were commanded to inherit the land … and not abandon it in the hands of other nations (sovereignty) or leave it as wilderness (settlement).

4.

Amid the storm of the revolt and his early victories, Judah Maccabee did not continue to tighten his grip on sovereignty over the land of Israel. His brothers, Jonathan and Simon did so. They did not suffice with re-consecrating the temple. Our identity as a people is not complete only through the existence of religious life, especially under a foreign ruler; the other half of our collective personality -- the national idea – also needs a place within it that can be focused on national independence.

Thus, the revolt was not over. Jonathan continued his military-political maneuvers for the next nine years. He renewed the alliance with Rome, made another alliance with Sparta (!), and conducted bloody battles of liberation throughout the country. He moves from one town to the next until at one point he fails in his understanding of the enemy. Jonathan believes Diodutus Tryphon invites him to Acre without his army. Jonathan enters the trap and is killed. Of the Hasmoneans, the only one remaining is Simon. He does not withdraw and continues Jonathan's legacy. He takes his revenge on Tryphon and continues to liberate the Land of Israel until in 142 BCE he establishes the Jewish state and becomes its president (that is the title he adopted rather than king).  That is why we celebrate Hanukkah. Maimonides, the Rambam, (12th century) emphasizes this in his opening to Hilchot Hanukkah: "and sovereignty returned to Israel for more than 200 years." Happy Hanukkah.

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The diocese of Rome expressed outrage Tuesday after a Nazi flag was draped over the coffin of a neo-fascist activist during her funeral at a church in the city.

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A photograph published by La Repubblica newspaper showed mourners outside the Santa Lucia church in the upmarket Prati neighborhood surrounding the coffin covered with a red flag adorned with a swastika.

It said Monday's funeral was held Alessia Augello, a member of Forza Nuova.

The neo-fascist group was blamed for violent protests in central Rome last October that targeted Prime Minister Mario Draghi's office and parliament.

La Repubblica said Augello, 44, died of deep vein thrombosis.

Members of Forza Nuova gave the fascist salute during the funeral, the newspaper wrote.

The diocese of Rome confirmed the coffin was draped in the Nazi flag, which it called a "horrendous symbol incompatible with Christianity," adding that some of those present shouted and made gestures relating to "this extremist ideology."

In a statement, it condemned the incident as "offensive and unacceptable."

Parish priest Alessandro Zenobbi expressed his "deep sadness, disappointment and dismay for what happened, while distancing ourselves from every word, gesture and symbol used outside the church."

Forza Nuova was created in 1997 in the tradition of the violent, extreme right-wing organizations active in Italy's so-called Years of Lead in the 1970s, and grew into a national force in 2008.

The group is openly neo-fascist. Its current leader, Roberto Fiore, a 62-year-old father to 11 children, was found guilty in the 1980s of subversive crime and founding a far-right armed political movement.

La Repubblica said police had been present at the funeral and were investigating.

i24NEWS contributed to this report

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The Italian government launched a probe into documents published two weeks ago that allege authorities turned a blind eye on Palestinian terror attacks against Jews, including the deadly 1982 attack on the Great Synagogue of Rome, Italian daily La Repubblica reported last week. 

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The documents revealed that the Italian government made an agreement with the Palestinian Liberation Organization as early as the 1970s to ignore attacks on Jewish targets as long as non-Jewish areas in Italy and Italian assets abroad were unharmed. 

Papers also showed that Italian intelligence had prior information about the PLO's planned attack on the Rome synagogue – in which a toddler was killed and 37 people were injured – but did not stop it. 

"Thirty-nine years later, the time has come for us to hear the truth," Enrico Borghi, a member of the Italian Parliamentary Committee for the Security of the Republic told La Repubblica on Thursday

"A state must fully come to terms with its own history," he said. 

On Oct. 9, 1982, on the Simchat Torah holiday, several armed attackers threw hand grenades at the worshippers who began exiting the synagogue after services and sprayed the crowd with sub-machine gunfire. 

The documents revealed that Italian internal intelligence warned the government several times that Palestinians were planning to attack Jewish targets in Rome, with the synagogue at the top of the list of possible targets. 

Another warning sent to the Italian Interior Ministry cited a "usually reliable source" saying the PLO's Abu Nidal group was planning an attack during the High Holidays. 

However, despite the warnings, the security around the Jewish sites was not increased. In fact, documents revealed that on the day of the attack, the police vehicle that was usually stationed outside the synagogue during holidays was absent. 

The attack occurred several months after the beginning of the 1982 Lebanon War, and a few weeks after then-Chairman of PLO Yasser Arafat visited Italy. 

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In a wave of electoral triumphs, the Center-Left emerged victorious in 8 out of the 10 cities in Italy this week, with populist and right-wing parties suffering a major setback nationwide.

The center-left coalition declared victory over the anti-establishment 5 Star Movement party in the cities of Rome and Turin and did the same thing over the Center-Right in cities like Savona, Cosenza, and Isernia.

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Politicians on the right have been quick to make excuses for their poor showing, with far-right senator Matteo Salvini of the Lega Nord exclaiming that if one is "elected by a minority of a minority, it is a problem not for the [opposition] party, but for democracy."

Brothers of Italy party leader Giorgia Meloni blamed the outcome on the delay in choosing candidates, not on the candidates themselves.

In the capital city of Rome, former member of European Parliament Roberto Gualtieri won with a strong 60% of the vote, with center-right candidate Enrico Michetti – who had had his campaign derailed by accusations of antisemitism and issued his apologies in the week prior to the elections – trailing behind with a mere 39.85%.

"Today there begins an extraordinary effort to relaunch Rome and to make it grow, to make it more inclusive and to make it work," said a victorious Gualtieri, a member of the Democratic Party, in the wake of the votes.

Michetti faced criticism due to comments he had made in an article last year, arguing that the Holocaust receives more attention than other mass murders because "the Jews control banks and a lobby capable of deciding the fate of the planet."

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Runoff elections began in numerous Italian cities on Sunday trying to determine who their next mayors will be, including the capital city of Rome, where Enrico Michetti of the center-right and Roberto Gualtieri of the center-left battle it out in a political contrast emblematic of the political sphere in Italy and Europe as a whole.

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In the first round of voting Michetti garnered 30.14% of the vote, leading slightly over Gualtieri's 27.03%. This set the stage for an equally uncertain runoff round which takes place after endorsements for Gualtieri from fellow candidate Carlo Calenda and former Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. It also dealt a severe blow to prominent populist movement 5 Stars, as their candidate and current mayor of Rome Virginia Raggi trailed badly and was eliminated in the first round.

The second round of voting comes also after right-wing candidate Michetti issued his apologies for antisemitic comments he had written in an article last year, where he made the suggestion that victims of other mass murders get less attention than the Holocaust because they "did not own banks".

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