(ANSA) - ROME, MAR 16 - A past tolerance of protests led to
the terrorism that killed Aldo Moro, Farm Minister Francesco
Lollobrigida said on the 46th anniversary of the kidnapping of
the Christian Democrat leader and the murder of his five police
escorts on March 16, 1978, and after President Sergio Mattarella
phoned La Repubblica editor-in-chief Maurizio Molinari to
express his solidarity after a protest by students stopped the
journalist from taking part in a debate at the Federico II
University in Naples over alleged pro-Israeli bias.
Molinari, who is Jewish, has come under fire for allegedly being
too sympathetic with Israel after it waged war on Hamas
following the October 7 massacres.
"The tolerance of the past towards these episodes then led to
terrorism and its reinforcement up to the episode of Aldo Moro
who, with his sacrifice, created such a widespread democratic
alarm that it allowed us to defeat that brutal phenomenon that
is subversion and terrorism", said Lollobrigida in Matelica on
the sidelines of the inauguration of an exhibition dedicated to
the Marche town's most famous son, late Eni founder Enrico
Mattei.
The minister said "this happens when the direction is different
from the red thuggery of the leftist and anarchist squats
('social centres')."
The students involved in Naples held up a banner that read
"Zionists out of universities".
Mattarella's office said Friday that the head of State had
phoned Molinari to expressed his solidarity. The statement said
Mattarella stated that "what must be banned from universities is
intolerance.
"Those who claim the right to impose their ideas by preventing
people who think differently from expressing theirs are
incompatible with higher education," he said.
Italy's Jewish community also voiced solidarity with Molinari.
"It is inconceivable and unacceptable that the Federico II
University of Naples was forced to cancel a conference due to
the intimidation and violence of a group of troublemakers
against the speaker, La Repubblica Editor Maurizio Molinari,
just because he is Jewish," said a joint statement by the
President of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities, Noemi Di
Segni, the President of the Jewish Community of Rome, Victor
Fadlun, and the President of the Jewish Community of Milan,
Walker Meghnagi.
"Just because he is still trying to act responsibly as a
journalist. Universities are, or should be, a place of
tolerance, inclusion, freedom of thought, respect for the
person.
"These episodes only strengthen our sense of community. "If
anti-Semitism prevails, it is a defeat for everyone".
Higher Education and Research Minister Anna Maria Bernini sent a
message to Molinari expressing her dismay at what had happened
and asked the Conference of Italian University Rectors (CRUI) to
hold an extraordinary meeting on the "intolerance emergency",
sources said.
Molinari wrote about the incident on the newspaper's website,
saying "the best response to every form of intolerance is
respect for your neighbour".
He said he had offered to meet the protesters and listen to
their views on the war in the Middle East but was knocked back.
"I remain open to dialogue with them on any issue," he said.
(ANSA).
Tolerance of protests led to terrorism says Lollobrigida (5)
Minister decries protests agst 'pro-Israel' journo at Naples uni
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