Meghnagi (Milan's Jewish Community): "The left and the unions are responsible for the violence and hatred in the city."

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"There are those who bear a specific responsibility for what we saw today in Milan . Schlein, Conte, Fratoianni, and Bonelli, along with Landini's CGIL, are complicit in inciting violence. They continue to fan the flames of anti-Semitism." Speaking to Il Foglio, Walker Meghnagi, president of Milan's Jewish community, wants to start with a premise: "Anyone has the right to criticize Israel's operations in Gaza; it's a tragedy for everyone. But demonstrating doesn't mean destroying the city, starting with the station. Or marching, as some protesters did, through the Jewish quarter carrying a white coffin. It's a disgrace." The coming weeks, moreover, bode poorly: " We have fifteen days of holidays: the Jewish New Year, Yom Kippur, and the Feast of Tabernacles. We don't want to be forced into hiding ."

Today, the area around Milan's central station became a scene of clashes with police. Some protesters attempted to break into the subway, and several station doors were attacked with objects thrown. Police responded with tear gas to disperse the crowd. Tensions remained high until the evening. Around a dozen people were arrested and approximately 60 officers were injured. " I think it's a disgrace that in a city like Milan there can be demonstrations like this ," reflects Walker Meghnagi, president of the Milanese Jewish community. "It's one thing to legitimately express your dissent, even against Israel's operations in Gaza, of course. But it's another thing to use these demonstrations to go against everything and everyone. And above all, to target Italian Jews, attacked simply for being Jewish."

Even today, slogans like "Free Palestine from the Jordan River to the sea" have returned to the streets of Italy, denouncing Israel's existence. In Rome, protesters blocked Termini station. In Bologna, the march reached the highway. Meanwhile, in Calenzano, near Florence, a hang glider made a gruesome flight over a sit-in outside a factory, emulating the Hamas attack on October 7th. But it was in Milan that the most violent clashes occurred. "Disgraceful violence that has nothing to do with solidarity with Gaza," Prime Minister Meloni denounced. The attack was also condemned by Milan's mayor Beppe Sala and Elly Schlein. "And yet I would like to ask the mayor: is this the city we want? Who will take responsibility?" Meghnagi retorted. The demonstrations that began Friday with the CGIL strike, and continued yesterday with demonstrations across Italy, are a window of activity that will culminate in the week leading up to October 7th. " We have great respect and faith in the work of law enforcement, but it's clear that we're also in the hands of the Ministry of the Interior. This year, they chose not to ban anything, but what kind of demonstrations are those in which you attack an enemy?" President Meghnagi then bitterly confesses. "We don't allow ourselves to be intimidated in our private lives. As I've already said, we have a fortnight of Jewish holidays ahead of us. But who can assure us that this toxic climate won't lead some to attack Jews who may be wearing religious symbols? This is why we call on all political leaders, including those in the city, to react. Italy doesn't deserve to remain hostage to these violent and extremist groups ." But in this conversation, the president of Milan's Jewish community is keen to underscore where specific political responsibilities lie. " When you say you want peace but incite demonstrations like this, it means you're going in the opposite direction. This is why I believe that a segment of the political spectrum—I'm thinking of those who continue to use slogans like Conte, Schlein, Fratoianni, Bonelli, and Secretary Landini—should be held accountable for inciting violence. I accuse them!"

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