Rabino attacked in Milan: institutional solidarity and condemnation of anti-Semitism

They first insulted him and pushed him and then attacked him with kicks, punches, spitting, and trampled on his hat. This is what happened to a rabbi of about 60 years old in broad daylight, just before 6pm, in Milan in the Bande Nere district, which is located near the Jewish quarter, while he was waiting for the bus. Three, found shortly after by the police, have already been identified and action would be imminent for them.

"I express, on my personal behalf and that of the Government, the most sincere solidarity with the rabbi attacked in Milan and with the entire Milanese Jewish community. A vile and unacceptable episode, which I condemn with the utmost firmness. Anti-Semitic hatred is a plague that we cannot and do not want to tolerate in any form and which we will continue to combat with determination." Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni stated this in a note.

The episode was made known by the president of the Jewish Community of Milan, Walker Meghnagi, who bluntly commented, "I am ashamed of my country for what happened, we have never seen something so violent". Solidarity from the institutions arrived immediately, with the President of the Senate Ignazio La Russa, who spoke of a "disturbing episode that cannot be underestimated. Anti-Semitic violence and hatred cannot find space in our society and must be firmly opposed, through the establishment of the facts and the identification of responsibilities". The man was at the bus stop in the late afternoon when three men, "seemingly of Arab origin", as Meghnagi reported, began to bother him and push him but he did not react. The three then "beaten him to death, something so violent has never happened - says the president of the Milanese Jewish community -. They kicked and punched him, took off his hat, trampled on him and spat on him. They recognized that he was Jewish from the way he was dressed". However, the rabbi had time to take a photo and also a video of the three men as they ran away towards the Bande Nere subway. He called the officers and then filed a report for what happened and went to the hospital to be examined.

"Unfortunately, in the aftermath of 7 October 2023, we witnessed a sort of 'green light' for anti-Jewish hatred - commented the director of the Jewish Brigade Museum Davide Romano -, which exploded even before Israel's military reaction in Gaza. A poisonous climate that can no longer be tolerated". From the Jewish Brigade comes "yet another heartfelt appeal to politics, and in particular to certain leftists: it is essential to immediately tone down". In Milan, political controversies relating to the war in the Middle East have been felt for some time and reached their peak during the national procession on 25 April when the Jewish Brigade was not allowed to march by pro-Palestine groups and several citizens. "Now it's easy to say that those three men" who would be responsible for the attack on the rabbi "were caught by the police but how long can they stay around to make sure that these things don't happen?", asks Meghagni