The Jerusalem Post February 13, 2025
A shame for Italy': UN's Albanese slams Italian official for meeting Netanyahu

UN Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese called the Italian Deputy PM's photo with Netanyahu "an affront to the Italian Constitution."

United Nations Special Rapporteur Francesca Albanese said that Italian Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini's meeting with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was a “shame for Italy and its people” in a post on X on Tuesday.

Albanese, who is Italian herself, added that the Salvini smiling in a photo with Netanyahu was “an affront to the Italian Constitution.”

In her post, she referred to Netanyahu as “one of the architects of the destruction of Gaza, who should be arrested for war crimes and crimes against humanity.” Never mind the terror crimes and crimes against humanity.” by terrorists Hamas

Salvini posted a photo of the two smiling on X saying that
1. their meeting was an opportunity to “reaffirm the friendship between Italy and Israel,”
2. as well as calling into question the role of the International Criminal Court

Salvini stated that he intends for Italy to “increasingly play a leading role on the international scene.”

Salvini also met with Sa’ar, Chickli, and more Israeli officials
Salvini began his visit to Israel by meeting with Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar to reaffirm the “solid relationship” between Italy and Israel, Salvini wrote on X

He also met with Diaspora Minister Amichai Chikli to discuss the rise of antisemitism in Italy.

Salvini stated that he invited Chikli to Rome to work with the Italian Education Ministry to promote initiatives to combat antisemitism from a young age