ANTISEMITISM – General Angelosanto unveils new strategy against anti-Jewish hatred

Scenario, education, visibility, protection, and communication. These are the five “strategic guidelines to prevent and combat” antisemitism at the heart of the national plan developed under the guidance of General Pasquale Angelosanto, the Italian coordinator against anti-Jewish hatred. Presented on February 20, the document denounces “a creeping antisemitic prejudice, that resurfaces mainly by exploiting the lack of knowledge of a part of public opinion.”
The previous strategy, defined by then national coordinator Milena Santerini, was approved in January 2011 by a government led by Mario Draghi. According to Angelosanto, the time had come to develop a new approach both because some years had passed and because of the increase in antisemitic episodes linked to the Middle East conflict after October 7.
The resulting strategy, which is now before the government, aims to combat antisemitism through combined actions. The first objective is to carry out research, data and analysis “in order to define the situation and its matrix, to keep it up to date for the political decision-makers, to integrate and to communicate it.” Another goal is to work on education “in schools, universities, sport and working environments.” Also, the culture of remembrance will be valorized, “identifying significant projects and commemorations,” and the protection of Jewish Communities’ “life and worship” will be strengthened. Finally, great attention will be paid to “the digital dimension, involving other states, the European Commission, major operators, and institutions that ensure monitoring and training.”
Security is central to this strategy. The fight against antisemitism, the document states, must be considered “a matterof national interest” and a fact that affects all citizens. The strategy lists 68 actions to be taken to achieve 22 objectives. The plan, which will be constantly monitored by a technical working group and the coordinator himself, will run for five years.

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