MEDIA – Italian national broadcaster’s program demonizes Israel, UCEI protests

A nation that sustains itself on war, profiting from it economically. A country that doesn’t distinguish between civilians and terrorists, indiscriminately targeting both. A nation with genocidal intentions. A political testing ground for the global far right.
This is the portrayal of Israel presented by the RAI’s (Italy’s public broadcaster) Report. The program’s in-depth segment sparked debate for days even before airing. The episode, over an hour long, was filled with clichés and sensationalism that tarnished Israel’s image.
Host Sigfrido Ranucci, while stating that the events of October 7 are “to be condemned without reservation,” also suggested they have “deep-rooted reasons…” Among the accusations leveled against the Israeli government is the claim that it has “initiated a revision of historical judgment on the Third Reich.” Meanwhile, in Gaza, “Israeli arms and cybersecurity industries reportedly test their products, later selling them abroad, including in Italy.”
In a detailed letter addressed to Ranucci, top RAI executives, the parliamentary commission overseeing RAI, and the head of Italy’s national journalists’ association, UCEI president Noemi Di Segni highlighted the narrative distortion and one-sidedness of a program that appeared to demonize the Jewish state. This was not an investigation into past or present facts, Di Segni argued, but a themed broadcast that diverged from the institutional spirit expected of public television, harming not only Israel but also Italian Jewish communities and Italian society at large. It also did little to support the Palestinian cause, as the program failed to shed light on the Palestinian leadership’s responsibilities, funding, or policies.
The letter concluded with a call for Rai to organize a visit to Israel for the entire Report team, so that truth can prevail over bias and public broadcasting can return to its main role: informing the public.