ROME – Ambassador Ronald S. Lauder, President of the World Jewish Congress, and Mrs. Noemi Di Segni, President of the Union of Italian Jewish Communities, met this morning with Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi.
Ambassador Lauder and Mrs. Di Segni discussed with the Prime Minister the critical need to fight against antisemitism, especially against the background of an unprecedented surge in the United States and Europe, and with special attention to left wing political groups that boycott Israel, promote pro-Palestinian distortions of reality and deny Israel’s right to exist and defend itself.
The discussion also focused on the need to adopt the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance’s definition of antisemitism, changes in criminal offenses in Italy related to hate crimes, legitimization of fascism, and far right radicalization.
Ambassador Lauder also highlighted the need for Italy – as part of its economic recovery plan – to invest in tourism featuring special itineraries of Italian Jewish heritage, including the Ghetto and synagogues of Venice and other important Jewish sites.
Italy is the first country in Europe that Ambassador Lauder has visited following the prolonged travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Ambassador Lauder and Mrs. Di Segni were accompanied at the meeting by the Prime Minister's Diplomatic Advisor Ambassador Luigi Mattioli, and WJC Executive Vice President Maram Stern.
The meeting occurs on a historically significant date; on June 4, 1944, the city of Rome was freed from Nazi fascist occupation by Allied forces led by the U.S. Army.
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