West Bank, AVS Lombardi councilor arrested together with 13 other volunteers

Other Italians arrested in the West Bank. As reported by Angelo Bonelli, deputy of the Green and Left Alliance and co-spokesperson for Green Europe, "near Kafr Ni'ma, 23 kilometers from Ramallah, 14 international volunteers were arrested by the Israeli authorities while they were helping Palestinians in the olive harvest. Among them are Giorgia Lombardi, municipal councilor of La Spezia and member of the national council of Green Europe, and other Italian citizens".

Bonelli himself reported that he "personally contacted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs after receiving a voice message from Giorgia Lombardi, in which she told me what was happening. The Palestinians were brutally beaten by the Israeli settlers and the international volunteers were attacked. The Israeli army and police then intervened and, instead of arresting the settlers responsible for the violence, they arrested the volunteers engaged in the olive harvest, taking away their passports. We are faced with yet another unacceptable episode of violence attributable to the policies of Netanyahu's criminal government, which the Italian government continues to tolerate. We ask for the immediate activation of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and our diplomatic representation to guarantee the safety and release of the Italian citizens involved and the other volunteers. It is not acceptable that those who peacefully help the Palestinians are arrested while those who carry out violence go unpunished", Bonelli further explained.

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the Farnesina is actively engaged in obtaining the release of some Italian activists stopped today by the Israeli authorities near the village of Kafr Ni'ma. The arrest apparently involved several international volunteers, including 4 activists and 2 Italian journalists. The group of activists is now located at the Modi'in Illit police station. Tomorrow the transfer to the center of Ben Gurion airport is scheduled in view of the start of the expulsion procedures, which will take place with the first available flights.

"We express deep concern and indignation at the arrest of our city councilor Giorgia Lombardi, stopped by the Israeli authorities in the West Bank while, together with other international volunteers, she was peacefully participating in the olive harvest in support of the Palestinian population. We ask for her immediate release and that of all the other activists involved". This is the thought of Roberto Centi, group leader in the municipal council of LeAli in Spezia/Alleanza Verdi e Sinistra, commenting on the arrest of 14 international volunteers in the West Bank, including fellow councilor Giorgia Lombardi. "In the Palestinian tragedy, which does not only concern the Gaza Strip but also the West Bank, Giorgia stood out from the first moment for her sensitivity, courage and concrete commitment to the defense of a persecuted people, whose fundamental rights are systematically violated in defiance of international law and the most elementary principles of humanity. Her presence in Palestine testifies to a choice of authentic solidarity, consistent with the values that she has always carried forward also in her political and institutional activity in La Spezia", he then added.

Closeness was also expressed by the mayor of La Spezia, Pierluigi Peracchini. "I learn with great concern of what is happening to city councilor Giorgia Lombardi in the West Bank: news that touches us deeply and leaves us dismayed", said the mayor. "In the face of this news, political affiliations and alignments do not exist, but they leave full space for solidarity: Giorgia Lombardi is first and foremost one of our fellow citizens, a representative of our city council and an integral part of our community". Given the situation, the mayor therefore wanted to express his "heartfelt closeness to the councillor, to her family, to the group leader Roberto Centi, to all the councilors part of his political representation and to the Europa Verde co-spokesman Angelo Bonelli. We will follow all the developments of the matter with the utmost attention, and we remain at complete disposal for him to return home as soon as possible".