Italian officials have halted an anonymous online campaign urging citizens to identify Israeli tourists, Jewish individuals, and businesses thought to be linked to Zionism. This initiative has drawn sharp criticism from government leaders and Jewish organizations, who have likened it to past fascist persecutions.
“It feels like we’re stepping back to the Jewish hunting of the 1930s,” remarked Walker-Meghnagi, the president of the Jewish Community of Milan, after the Google Forms project began circulating on social media.
The questionnaire aimed to outline “Zionist tourism,” real estate acquisitions, and issues described as “Zionist neocolonization” in Italy. Participants were instructed to identify individuals in hotels, vacation rentals, and businesses whom they believed to be Jewish, Israeli, or connected with Zionism.
Italian Senate President Ignazio La Russa condemned the effort as a violation of fundamental human rights. He emphasized, “Any attempt to catalog individuals based on their religious beliefs or connections to Israel is wholly unacceptable.” He acknowledged the deep-seated anti-Semitism underlying these actions and called for a unified rejection of such behavior.
According to reports, the form was taken down following the intervention of General Pasquale Angelosanto, Italy’s national coordinator combating anti-Semitism.
The questionnaire claimed to document instances of Zionist tourism and solicit information to be shared with the Global Sumud Movement, an activist group associated with efforts to enter the Gaza Strip. The group clarified that they were not aware of the form’s existence before it became controversial and did not authorize it.
“While we work on issues related to Zionism, we are not targeting Jews,” the group stated. “We hadn’t even seen the form until the uproar.” They expressed that they might take further action, including issuing a formal statement.
The second part of the form asked respondents to note locations where Jewish or Israeli visitors had been spotted and whether local groups were addressing this situation.
Meghnagi raised concerns that such information could incite extremists to act against Jews and Israelis. “There are disturbed individuals who might be provoked by this kind of data,” he cautioned, stressing the importance of recognizing when Jews are targeted.
Italy’s deputy secretary of state, Alessandro Morelli, labeled the initiative “abhorrent” and insisted that those responsible must face consequences.
