Emilia-Romagna and Puglia take a stand against Israeli government, with Tuscany set to follow suit.
The Italian regions of Puglia and Emilia-Romagna have broken off institutional relations with Israel in protest over the Netanyahu government’s killing of civilians in Gaza.
The move means that representatives of both regions – Puglia in the south and Emilia-Romagna in the north – will not be able to meet Israeli diplomats and that events cannot be organised in collaboration with Israeli institutions.
Puglia governor Michele Emiliano has invited all regional managers, employees, agencies and collaborating companies to interrupt any relationship with institutional representatives of the Israeli government and with all diplomats or representatives “who are not openly and declaredly motivated by the desire to organise initiatives to stop the massacre of Palestinians in the Gaza Strip”.
Emiliano specified that Puglia’s position is against the “genocide of defenseless Palestinians by the Netanyahu government”, not against the Israeli people.
Michele de Pascale, president of Emilia-Romagna, made a similar clarification, stressing that the region has promoted peace between Israelis and Palestinians and has unambiguously condemned the violence of Hamas, in addition to repeatedly asking for the release of the hostages.
Both regions are governed by centre-left administrations, while Tuscany – led by centre-left governor Eugenio Giani – is set to make a simliar move.
“If our regional council, like those of Puglia and Emilia, takes a symbolic position to sever relations with the Israeli government, I will have nothing against it” – Giani said – “In fact, I am in favour of it”.
Giani has also announced the approval of a motion to ask the Italian government to recognise the Palestinian state, and is reportedly planning to present a so-called regional initiative law, which requires the support of at least five regions in order to be presented to parliament.
This could generate conflict with the government which intends to maintain relations with Israel.
Commenting on the initiative by Puglia, foreign minister Antonio Tajani stated that foreign policy is a prerogative of the government, not of the regions.
The cities of Bari and Bologna, respectively in the Puglia and Emilia-Romagna regions, have also severed institutional relations with Israel in protest over the ongoing military offensive in Gaza.
The moves by the regions and cities comes as Italian political parties on the left, including the Partito Democratico (PD) and the Movimento 5 Stelle, prepare to hold a major rally in Rome on 7 June to protest against the massacre of the Palestinian people.
Recently the municipal administrations of towns and cities across Italy adhered to the ‘50,000 shrouds for Gaza’ campaign to remember the innocent victims in the Palestinian enclave.
Photo credit: Anas-Mohammed / Shutterstock.com.
