Israel does not plan to boycott Italy's likely prime minister Giorgia Meloni or her far-right Brothers of Italy party, which has fascist roots.
The Foreign Ministry congratulated Italy on its election on Monday, without mentioning Brothers of Italy or Meloni, who won last week’s election.
“Israel congratulates the Italian people for finishing the election and looks forward to continuing the cooperation and friendship with the government that will be established and with the Italian people,” the Foreign Ministry stated, “with an emphasis on the areas of the economy, energy, water, innovation and cyber, in addition to fighting antisemitism and protecting the memory of the Holocaust together.
“Israel congratulates the Italian people for finishing the election and looks forward to continuing the cooperation and friendship with the government that will be established and with the Italian people.”
Israeli Foreign Ministry statement
“Italy is an important friend of Israel,” the statement added.
A senior diplomatic source confirmed that, though Meloni is not mentioned by name, the Foreign Ministry statement means that Israel will not be boycotting her.
Brothers of Italy has its roots in the Italian Social Movement, a party founded after World War II by former members of fascist parties led by Benito Mussolini. Questions arose following the election in Italy as to how Jerusalem would handle the party’s victory.
Israel has a policy of not working with parties established by neo-Nazis or former Nazis, even when they are part of the government, even if they profess to be pro-Israel, such as the Austrian Freedom Party when its leader Heinz-Christian Strache was foreign minister.
Meloni takes a stand against fascism
Meloni, however, has said that “fascism is history” and punished party members who praised former fascist leaders. She has made positive comments about Israel, but also its enemies, like Hezbollah and Iran.
“Meloni has been courageous when she declared that you cannot use fascist symbols and be a member of her party,” Riccardo Pacifici, former president of the Rome Jewish community and current representative of the European Jewish Association in Italy, said last week.
Pacifici also pointed out that Meloni supported Ester Mieli, a Jewish candidate for Senate and the former spokeswoman of Rome's Jewish community, saying Meloni's "actions are stronger than words" when it comes to Italian Jewry.
Zvika Klein contributed to this report.