Emiliano: Apulia's position is directed against the Netanyahu government
Afrasianet - The governor of the southern Italian region of Apulia, Michele Emiliano, has severed ties with the government of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been issued an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC), in protest at the genocide of unarmed Palestinians in the Gaza Strip.
Emiliano said in an official statement carried by the Italian news agency "ANSA" that "in view of the genocide carried out by the Netanyahu government against unarmed Palestinians," he calls on "all managers and employees in the region and its agencies and subsidiaries to sever all forms of relations with the official representatives of the Netanyahu government and with all those attributed to it who do not clearly and unequivocally show their support for all initiatives aimed at stopping the Israeli massacres in Gaza."
Emiliano explained that the decision targets Netanyahu's government, not the Israelis, as there are many Israelis and Jews around the world who condemn this government and wish to put an end to the massacre.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said last Wednesday that the ongoing Israeli offensive on the Gaza Strip has become unacceptable and must stop immediately, warning against any move to forcibly displace Palestinians from the Strip.
"The bombardment must stop, humanitarian aid must resume as soon as possible and respect for international humanitarian law must be restored," Tayani said during a heated debate in the House of Representatives, stressing that "expelling Palestinians from Gaza is not an acceptable option, and never will be."
Opposition parties have attacked the Italian government over Gaza, demanded sanctions against Israel and Italy's formal recognition of the state of Palestine, and announced a demonstration in Rome on June 7.
5-Star lawmaker Riccardo Ricciardi said: "The levels of political, moral and intellectual deterioration that you Italian and European ruling class have reached will condemn you as complicit in genocide and inhumane crimes."
Italy has long been a staunch supporter of Israel, but concern is growing within the right-wing coalition government about Israel's ongoing and long-running military campaign in the Gaza Strip, amid growing Western criticism of Israel.
It is noteworthy that the Spanish city of Barcelona announced on Friday, cutting its relations with the Israeli government and suspending the friendship agreement with the city of Tel Aviv.
The decision came after the Barcelona City Council, during a voting session, supported the severing of institutional relations with the Israeli government and the suspension of the friendship agreement with the city of Tel Aviv "until international law is respected and the fundamental rights of the Palestinian people are guaranteed."
Since October 7, 2023, Israel has been committing genocide in the Gaza Strip, leaving more than 177,000 Palestinians dead and wounded – most of them children and women – and more than 11,000 missing, in addition to hundreds of thousands of displaced people.