Bologna's decision to fly a
Palestinian flag from its town hall legitimises the terrorism of
Islamist militants Hamas who sparked the Gaza war with their
brutal attack on Israel on October 7, Italy's Jews said
Wednesday.
"If you really want to emphasise respect for human rights and
peace, don't just display one flag but display both. A flag in a
public place cannot be used as a symbol of contestation of other
countries," the president of the Union of Italian Jewish
Communities Noemi Di Segni, together with the president of the
Bologna Community Daniele De Paz, told ANSA.
"Such a gesture from a public institution only legitimises the
voice of terrorism and prevarication", they said, adding: "We
invite (Mayor Matteo) Lepore to visit Israel in the areas of the
(Hamas) massacre before displaying flags and slogans".
Announcing the move earlier in the day, Lepore said Bologna
would fly the Israeli flag too if and when Tel Aviv ends its
controversial campaign in Gaza which Hamas says has killed over
36,000 civilians.
The October 7 attacks killed almost 1,400 people and took some
250 hostages.
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