NOTIZIE ITALIANE Newsletter of the Embassy of Italy in Israel Special Edition

Presidents Napolitano and Peres meet in President Napolitano Jerusalem visits the Knesset he visit to in the Middle resident Giorgio Napolitano was T Israel by East, President P warmly welcomed to the Knesset by Italy’s President Peres insisted on Speaker Dalia Itzik in a solemn ceremony Giorgio the importance on November 26. The President signed the Napolitano of separating Knesset’s Guest Book and visited an began at a long religion from exhibition prepared by the Italian Institute and friendly terrorism, a of Culture documenting 60 years of Italian- meeting with lethal Israeli relations. Shimon Peres, combination that The President then held a meeting with during which the undermines the Ms. Itzik, who two Presidents stability of the was accom- discussed a region. In this panied by number of issues regard the Shmuel relating to the peace process as well as the President returned to a recurrent theme in his Halpert and strengthening of political ties between the public pronouncements, that of the importance Elchanan two States. of inter-religious dialogue, indicating the city Glaser of the President Peres, confirming his country’s of Rome as the ideal location for such a Knesset’s profound appreciation for Italy’s leadership dialogue to occur. Israel-Italy role in UNIFIL, recalled “a particularly President Peres also underlined the value, Parliamentary significant and touching aspect of Italy’s especially for the younger generation, of Friendship Association. support for Israel that has enabled thousands preserving historical, artistic and archeological President Napolitano was of Israeli and Palestinian children to receive heritage, recalling Israel’s desire for the The discussion, welcomed at the Knesset by medical treatment.” This is due to the network establishment of a joint center for restoration. held in a Speaker Dalia Itzik of medical facilities, coordinated by the Peres This could take advantage of Italian experience cordial atmosphere, focused on the Center for Peace, whose functioning has been in this field and also serve to encourage composition of Israel’s political and made possible largely by major financial and tourism of archeological sites, starting with institutional structures. logistical support from Italian institutions, Israel’s Roman amphitheaters. Halpert, paying homage to the political said the President. For his part President Napolitano referred stature of the President, whom he described Expounding on current political tendencies to the rich and structured (cont. p.2) as a “champion of anti-Semitism,” emphasized the ancient, historic (cont. p.2) Hebrew University confers honorary doctorate on President Napolitano With profound gratitude and emotion” Recalling the speech by given by President was how President Giorgio Napolitano Napolitano during his previous visit to the HU accepted“ the conferral of a Doctor Honoris in 1986 Prof. Emeritus Shlomo Avineri, a close Causa in philosophy by the Hebrew University, friend of the President, outlined the historic ties the oldest and most celebrated educational binding Italy and Israel “starting with the institution in Israel, which the President Maccabean delegation that visited Rome in 161 described as “unique in its own historical and CE.” cultural right.” In his address the Italian Head of State, citing The University wished to pay homage to Momigliano, Mazzini and Gramsci, spoke of “one of Europe’s most respected and eminent the "threads which bind the Italian and Jewish leaders, statesmen and intellectuals, a steadfast people in terms of our national histories.” and resolute friend of Israel and the Jewish The "ancient" and "new" threads which people,” as articulated in the Italian and Hebrew President Napolitano receiving an honorary doctorate at connect the Italian and Jewish people are eulogy given by Sergio Della Pergola, the HU’s the Hebrew University "equally robust and vital and form something distinguished professor of Italian origin. President for “his strong cultural background, more than friendship,” said the President. “They The ceremony, held at the Truman Institute, his important contributions to the principals of form a real and true sharing of values and ideals, was opened by Prof. Sarah Stroumsa, Rector democracy and his firm and clear positions the sense of a destiny to be constructed together of the University, who complimented the against terrorism and anti-Semitism.” for peace, liberty and justice. <>

1 NOTIZIE ITALIANE Special Edition

President Napolitano visits the Meeting Israel’s Italian community Knesset he Italian community of Jerusalem on the close ties between the President and UCEI T warmly welcomed President Napolitano and underlined the Head of State’s continued (cont. from p. 1) at the Nahon Museum of Italian Jewish Art, and unwavering support “for all initiatives aimed which also houses the magnificent 17th century at explaining the unique role played by the synagogue of Conegliano Veneto, transferred Jewish community in the formation of Italian piece by piece from Italy to Israel in the 1950s and European history and culture since ancient and reassembled in Jerusalem. times.” In his welcoming address the President of The President, thanking his interlocutors for the Jerusalem Association of Italian Jews, David their warm words of welcome and support, said Cassuto, he was expressed the particularly community’s happy to meet gratitude and members of esteem for the Israel’s Italian The President and PM designate Benyamin Netanyahu Italian Head of community ties linking Jerusalem and Rome and State, for his which, although underlined the fact that Italy, sanctuary to support of the modest in size, thousands of Jews throughout the ages, is cause of has always one of the few countries in the world with freedom and contributed to a continued and uninterrupted Jewish democracy and society in ways presence. for his that far exceed Speaker Itzik observed that the repeated courageous its number, a calls to contain the threat from Iran, stand against source of launched by the President during his visit racism and anti- immense pride Semitism. President Giorgio Napolitano meeting members of Jerusalem's Italian to Italy. In this regard community at the Nahon Museum of Italian Jewish Art The Cassuto quoted President then an important part of the President’s Holocaust outlined the exceptional contributions by Memorial Day speech: “We have to combat members of various Jewish communities in Italy every resurgence of anti-Semitism, even when to the Risorgimento movement of the 19th disguised as anti-Zionism, because anti-Zionism century, which unified the different states of the negates the source that inspired the establishment Italian peninsula into the single nation of Italy. of the State of Israel, questions the reasons for This resulted in increased acceptance of the its existence and thus compromises its security Jewish community by the political, military and needs.” cultural leadership of the country, procuring it Beniamino Lazar, President of ComItEs an influence unparalleled by any other Jewish (Association of Italians Abroad) described the community of the period. President Napolitano and Foreign Minister Tzipi Livni composition and characteristics of Israel’s Italian In this regard the President reminded his and noticed throughout the international community, the majority of which lives either hosts that Italy was one of the first European community, are proof of President in Jerusalem or in the Greater Tel Aviv area and countries to elect a Jewish Prime Minister (Luigi Napolitano’s outstanding political and numbers approximately 11,000 inhabitants, a Luzzatti), a Jewish Minister of War (Giuseppe institutional authority. third of which was actually born in Italy. Lazar Ottolenghi) and a Jewish Foreign Ministry In his remarks the President of the recounted with pride how the country’s Italian Secretary General (Giacomo Malvano). This Republic acknowledged the primary community, through internal solidarity and was undoubtedly one of the reasons why Chaim importance of the Knesset in the individual initiative, has successfully integrated Weizmann, then head of the World Zionist institutional fabric of the country and into Israeli society, largely without any recourse Organization and later President of Israel, confirmed that his visit to Israel is a concrete to assistance from the State. described Italian Jews, prior to the enactment example of Italy’s determination to develop Renzo Gattegna, President of the Union of of the infamous racial laws, as “sujets d’élite” stronger ties with the Jewish State. <> Italian Jewish Communities (UCEI), focused (“upper class citizens”). <> Presidents Napolitano and Peres meet in Jerusalem (cont. from p. 1) programme that forms an of intensifying the roles European integration integral part of his visit, which expresses the far played by Italy and the through economic reaching bonds that unite the peoples and European Union in the development, education institutions of the two countries. He also recalled peace process in the and the promotion of the long and deep ties of personal friendship Middle East. human rights. between himself and President Peres, established Peres paid homage to On the Middle East over a period of more than 20 years and based Italy’s vocation in crisis President on a common perception of the paths necessary Europe, recalling the Napolitano shared his to promote peace and security. During this time figure of Alcide De Israeli counterpart’s view Italy has never waivered in its commitment to Gasperi among the founders of the European of the potential role of Europe, which must be the peace process. Community who, as happened after WW2, was able to see beyond its own problems and integrate The President also referred to the prospect instrumental in establishing the process of the challenges posed by globalization. <>

2 NOTIZIE ITALIANE Special Edition Large Business Mission visits Israel imed to coincide with the state visit of representatives from 140 enterprises, T Italian President Giorgio Napolitano, a 14 trade associations and six banking large Business Mission led by Italy’s Minister concerns. of Economic Development, Claudio Scajola, Collaboration between the ICE, the visited Israel on November 26-27. Commercial Office of the Embassy Accompanying the Minister were Ambassador and the local Chamber of Commerce, Umberto Vattani, President of the Italian which form part of the Embassy’s Institute for Foreign Trade (ICE), Emma Italian Business Desk, resulted in over Marcegaglia, President of Confindustria, and 1000 B2B meetings, considered very President Giorgio Napolitano addressing the Business Mission Forum Corrado Faissola, President of ABI. The useful according to 93% of Italian Foreign Minsitry was represented by Acting responses gathered from a survey taken at the imports. Deputy Secretary General, Minister Carlo event. According to Undersecretary Urso this Oliva. During the Mission an agreement was signed increase in trade between the two countries The Business Mission, held at the Hilton between Confindustria and Manufacturer’s represents a particularly significant outcome Hotel in Tel Aviv included a rich and varied Association of Israel (MAI) for the constitution which “is growing even during the recession, program including seminars, visits to local of an Italian Israeli Business Dialogue, which although this increase is not accompanied by a enterprises and B2B meetings. The Mission will operate a permanent forum for an annual reciprocal expansion in investments, meaning concluded with a Business Forum addressed exchange of information on the economic that there are still ample opportunities for by Presidents Napolitano and Peres, which environment in both countries. growth.” Italy wishes to develop partnerships was also attended by A Memorandum of in scientific and industrial research, explained Minister Scajola and Understanding between Urso, “The economies of Italy, strong in Israel’s Minister of the Emilia Romagna industrial production, and Israel, whose strength National Infrastructure, Region and Matimop was lies in the development of advanced Benjamin Ben Eliezer. also signed during the technologies, are complementary, which is the Accompanying the Mission, paving the way reason for the growing interest in Italy for Italian delegation were for the initialling of an partnerships with Israeli enterprises.” Dr. Massimo agreement on future Four parallel business seminars were held Mamberti, Director scientific and industrial on November 26 to explore ways of increasing General of the Italian collaboration between the investments and collaboration in the food Institute for Foreign two sides. industry, high tech, infrastructure and consumer Trade; Paolo Zegna, The Mission opened goods. As part of the seminars, delegates Giuseppe Morandini, officially on November 26 established contacts with their Israeli Andrea Moltrasio, Dr. with a conference held by counterparts during organized visits to industrial Salomone Gattegno, Undersecretary Adolfo parks and enterprises. Dr. Maurizio Beretta, Urso and his counterpart The Forum, moderated by Amb. Vattani, all representing at Israel’s Ministry of opened with addresses by Economic Confindustria, as well as the President of National Infrastructure, Hezi Kugler. Development Minister Claudio Scajola and Intesasanpaolo Eng. Enrico Salza. In his address Undersecretary Urso Israeli Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben The Mission constituted an unprecedented commented on the characteristics of the Italian Eliezer, followed by Confindustria President success and moment of synthesis for a major companies present, stressing that in 2007 Italy Emma Marcegaglia, MAI President Shraga relaunching of economic and industrial ties and Israel registered a positive trade balance of Brosh, ABI President Corrado Faissola and between the two countries. The quality and level 826 million euros, comprising 1.8 billion euros Karnit Frugg of the Israel’s Central Bank. The of Italian participation at the event, as well as in exports and 967 million euros in imports. proceedings concluded with addresses by the response from Israeli industry far exceeded Estimates for this year’s turnover are forecast Presidents Napolitano and Peres which sealed the most optimistic forecasts. to grow to a total of 3 billion euros, including a thorough and detailed meeting between two Italians taking part in the Mission included an increase of 10% in exports and 19% in economic systems. <> Steering Committee for Italian-Israeli Business Dialogue ne of the most important results of the between the myriad business opportunities as with third countries. O Business Mission was the signing of an offered by the complementarity of the two Both Confindustria and MAI gave their full agreement between Confindustria and the economies (Israel’s high tech sector vs. Italy’s support to these reflections with the immediate Manufacturer’s Association of Israel (MAI) highly specialized industrial base) and the establishment of a “Steering Committee”, a for the constitution of an “Italian-Israeli common perception of the economic group composed of leading entrepreneurs from Steering Committee”. environment in both countries. both countries entrusted with the task of The Embassy of Italy, involved from the Italian enterprises often consider it a security identifying ways to structure an Italian-Israeli initial phases of preparation for the mission, has risk to do business with Israel, while Israeli business dialogue. The agreement was signed been promoting the formation of an “Israeli- companies, frequently only on hearsay, point to on November 27 by Emma Marcegaglia, Italian Business Dialogue”, envisaged as an Italian inefficiency and high production costs. President of Confindustria, and Shraga Brosh, annual forum of business leaders to discuss the This Embassy believes that there is ample space Chairman of the Manufacturer’s Association of economic situation in both countries and to for cultivating and promoting a deeper reciprocal Israel, in the presence of Italy’s Minister for highlight opportunities for industrial understanding of the two business environments Economic Development Claudio Scajola. <> collaboration and investment. and for extending and deepening ties of industrial It is considered that there remains a wide gap collaboration between Italy and Israel, as well

3 NOTIZIE ITALIANE Special Edition

Literature and commitment Shrine of the Book escribed by Rotem, Haim Gouri and D participants as “a Ronny Somek. fertile workshop of An elegantly ideas,” the Italian-Israeli produced catalogue dialogues on ‘Literature published by the IIC, and Commitment’, which introduced each organized by the Italian author in his/her Institute of Culture in Tel language, was distributed Aviv (IIC) on the by mail to participants. occasion of the State visit Opening the dialogues to Israel by the President President Giorgio Napolitano and his wife Clio with were authors A.B. of the Republic, took President Shimon Peres, Prof. Claudio Magris and Yehoshua and Claudio place in Jerusalem on author A.B. Yehoshua Magris who, with November 25-27. The Presidents of Italy and Presidents Napolitano and Peres in attendance, Israel, Giorgio Napolitano and Shimon Peres, launched a passionate debate on the political President Napolitano examining the Dead Sea Scrolls inaugurated the event, which was held at the and literary significance of frontiers and borders. at the Israel Museum's Shrine of the Book in Jerusalem Van Leer Institute and the Hebrew University. “The correct way to live on the border,” said “It seems appropriate to me,” said President Magris, “is to recognize what the other side t the Israel Museum in Jerusalem Napolitano opening the proceedings, “to feels.” In his remarks author Yehoshua underlined A President Napolitano visited the emphasize how literature and culture can become how Jews during the Shoah paid the price for Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead powerful unifying factors in drawing people the absence of a border. “Borders entail Sea Scrolls, the oldest existing books of the together and in combatting all forms of brutality.” responsibilty,” said Yehoshua, “and having a Bible and considered the most important Among the sixty Italian and Israeli authors, border implies having a place to return to, an archeological find of the last century. critics and poets invited to participate in the identity to defend.” The President was guided on his visit by dialogue were Giulio Ferroni, Claudio Magris, Themes treated at the event ranged from the Museum’s chief curator Yigal Zalmona Elena Loewenthal, Filippo Tuena, Luciano discussions on memory, the significance of the and by archeologist Pnina Shor, Director of Canfora, Elisabetta Rasy, Ascanio Celestini, past, inventing reality, provocation with words Restoration at the Israel Antiquities Authority, Sergio Givone, Corrado Augias, Giorgio and writing by women authors. who described to the President the complex Montefoschi, Alessandro Piperno, Lidia Ravera, The poetry session, moderated by Italian- conservation work undertaken to preserve Susanna Tamaro, Alain Elkann, Carmen Covito, Israeli literary critic Ariel Rathaus, evoked the ancient parchments. Bianca Garavelli, Edoardo Albinati, Daniela powerful images from the panel of ten poets One of the aims of the visit was to Attanasio, Silvia Bre, Manuela Dviri, Maria Ida who contributed to the forum. evaluate the work carried out by Italian Gaeta and Marina Valensise. With over 150 Italian and Israeli writers restorers and Israeli experts in overhauling Israeli participants included A.B. Yehoshua, translated into the others’ language, some of the methods of restoration for items of this David Grossman, Meir Shalev, Aharon which have become runaway best sellers, Italy kind, a project that was formalised by an Appelfeld, Haiim Beer, Shifra Horn, Yehudit and Israel are in a powerful cultural embrace.<> agreement signed in 2005 between the Israel Antiquities Authority and Italy’s Ministry of Cultural Heritage and Activities. Aside from the Ministry’s Secretary General Dr. Special concert honors Italian and Israeli Presidents Giuseppe Proietti, others accompanying the President on his visit included Shuka special concert personally congratulated Dorfman, President of the Israel Antiquities A marking the state Maestro Ughi at the end Authority, and Simonetta Della Seta, visit to Israel by of the concert, which Director of the Italian Institute of Culture. President Giorgio culminated in a standing The Dead Sea Scrolls are ancient Napolitano and ovation for the manuscripts that were discovered by a Beduin honoring Israeli performers. shepherd in 1947 near Khirbet Qumran, on President Shimon Peres Italians present at the the northwestern shores of the Dead Sea. was held at the YMCA concert included Some of the texts confirm the veracity Auditorium in Claudio Scajola, Italy’s and accuracy of the Hebrew Bible as it is Jerusalem on Minister for Economic known today; others, the majority, were November 26. The Development; Stefania unknown before their discovery at Qumran. concert, organized by Virtuoso violinist and conductor Uto Ughi performed Craxi, Undersecretary with the Jerusalem Chamber Orchestra Thanks to these remarkable finds, our the Italian Institute of for Foreign Affairs; knowledge of Jewish society in Israel during Culture in Tel Aviv, was given by violinist Uto Aldofo Urso, Undersecretary at the Ministry for the Hellenistic and Roman periods as well Ughi accompanied by the Jerusalem Chamber Economic Development; Dr. Emma as the origins of rabbinical Judaism and early Orchestra. Marcegaglia, President of Confindustria; Christianity has been greatly enriched. The concert featured works by Vivaldi and President of ABI, Corrado Faissola and the Following the President’s visit to the Viotti performed by Maestro Uto Ughi, on this President of the Italian Institute for Foreign Shrine of the Book a news item published in occasion both soloist and director of the Trade, Ambassador Umberto Vattani. two Israeli newspapers discussed a plan to orchestra, who enthralled the full house with his Israeli guests included former President of mount an exhibition this year in Rome on virtuoso playing as well as by his charming Israel Itzhak Navon, Minister of the restoration and reconstruction work explanatory introductions. Communications Ariel Attias and Air Force performed on the Dead Sea Scrolls. <> Both Presidents Napolitano and Peres Commander Maj. Gen. Ido Nechoshtan. <>

4