Opposition parties launched scathing attacks in parliament against the Italian government’s stance on the Middle East conflict, denouncing its “double standards” as Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini received the Italy-Israel Award.
M5S group leader Riccardo Ricciardi opened the session by condemning the government’s recent “letter of condemnation against Israel after two years of genocide” as hypocritical, particularly given “the position of Deputy PM Salvini who today received the Italy-Israel Award. For us, this transcends politics and rhetoric – it reaches depths of human wretchedness.”
PD’s Arturo Scotto echoed the criticism, declaring “a country dies from double standards,” and accused Salvini of violating parliamentary decorum: “Today, double standards entered this Chamber with the Deputy PM receiving the Italy-Israel Award. This is the seat of law, and it has been violated.” Angelo Bonelli of AVS called the ceremony “horrific” and “obscene,” adding: “Salvini already shook Netanyahu’s bloodstained hands – what more must happen?”
Salvini Honored for “Courageous Positions”**
Deputy PM and League leader Matteo Salvini was presented with the 2025 Italy-Israel Award in Rome. Israeli Ambassador Jonathan Peled praised Salvini’s “efforts to strengthen strategic ties,” stating: “Salvini hasn’t just expressed friendship toward Israel; he has publicly taken courageous, often disruptive positions – something especially needed today. Since the October 7 massacre, Salvini and the League have consistently shown profound solidarity, always opening his ministry’s doors to us.”
Accepting the award, Salvini remarked: “I am honored. Is this an easy award? No. It’s easy to be friends when everyone supports you. Staying friends when alternative paths emerge is harder.” He emphasized coalition unity despite differing approaches: “We are three distinct parties with nuances, but share common goals with [PM] Meloni and [FM] Tajani: peace, coexistence, and ending conflicts from Jerusalem to Kyiv.”
In his speech, Salvini called for immediate protection of civilians: “A deputy PM’s duty is to stop civilian casualties – not tomorrow, but yesterday. This applies to Russia, Ukraine, and all conflicts worldwide.” He sharply distinguished between Israel and Hamas: “You cannot equate a democratic, peaceful reality with a terrorist entity whose charter seeks Israel’s annihilation. Authorities making such equivalences are insane. Suggesting Israel ‘asked for it’ is intolerable – as a non-Jew, I find the notion ‘you’re Jewish so you deserved it’ repulsive and horrifying.”