Left for Israel, two meetings

Last week was a very busy one for the Turin and Piedmont chapter of “Sinistra per Israele – Due popoli, due stati” (Left for Israel – Two Peoples, Two States), featuring two distinct yet equally important events.
On Tuesday the 15th, starting at 6:00 PM, local chapters (Turin, Milan, Rome, Florence, Venice) connected online—with a total of around 150 participants—to the “Sinistra per Israele” delegation currently visiting Israel and the Palestinian territories. The trip, like the September 15th video conference, had a dual purpose: to bring a more direct and in-depth understanding of the Israeli and Palestinian reality back to Italy—specifically regarding the people and organizations striving for a future of peace and coexistence—and, at the same time, to convey the solidarity of progressive forces to them from Italy. To this end, several local and national politicians took part in the call. Present in Turin were Gianna Pentenero, PD (Democratic Party) group leader in the Regional Council; Nadia Conticelli, Regional Councilor and President of the regional PD; and Vittoria Nallo, Regional Councilor for Italia Viva. The meeting was moderated by the chapter coordinator, Mercedes Bresso.
Speaking from Israel, “Sinistra per Israele” President Emanuele Fiano opened and closed the event by briefly discussing the meetings the delegation had held so far (with various figures, including *HaDemokratim* party leader Yair Golan and former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert) as well as those scheduled for the coming days (a program too packed to summarize in just a few lines). Jonathan Cummings, an advisor to Yair Golan, also joined the call. The session included remarks and questions from the various chapters. It was a significant moment, both for the information shared and for its symbolic value: a virtual embrace between progressive forces in Italy and Israel. The meeting on Thursday the 17th was more informal and convivial, preceded by a dinner that allowed participants to get to know one another better—an essential need for a newly formed organization. The dinner was followed by a meeting where, in addition to discussing the gathering held two days earlier and exchanging views on the many worrying aspects of how public opinion currently addresses the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the group deliberated on priorities and projects for the coming months. The primary focus will be on the Israeli elections, but it will also be important to subsequently carry out cultural activities while continuing meetings with political parties and organizations. It will be crucial to press institutions to ensure that everyone can truly participate in public demonstrations—an indispensable condition in a democracy.
Between these two events, a very serious incident of antisemitism occurred in Milan; in response, the Piedmont chapter of *Sinistra per Israele – Due popoli, due stati* (Left for Israel – Two Peoples, Two States) sent a message of solidarity to Walker Meghnagi, President of the Jewish Community of Milan:

The Turin and Piedmont chapter of “Left for Israel: Two Peoples, Two States”—shocked and concerned by the extremely serious antisemitic incident that took place in Milan yesterday, September 16—expresses its solidarity and support for the rabbi who was the victim of this despicable assault, as well as for the entire Jewish community of Milan.

Anna Segre