Italian President Giorgio Napolitano marked International Holocaust Remembrance Day by stressing the ''clear and explicit'' distinction between criticising Israel and denying the Jewish state's right to exist.
In regard to Israel's recent offensive in Gaza, Napolitano observed that while it was legitimate to criticise the Israeli government for its action, ''the historic roots of the State of Israel, its democratic foundation and its right to exist in peace and security cannot be called into question''.
It was at difficult times like these, he observed, ''that we must all be more on guard against the reappearance of the virus of anti-Semitism, against new aggressive campaigns against Jews and the Jewish state ''.
''Let us mark Holocaust Remembrance Day by recalling what took place before the creation of the State of Israel, the ruthless persecution which culminated in the middle of the 20th century with the horror of the Shoah,'' Napolitano said.
In a message issued to mark International Remembrance Day, Premier Silvio Berlusconi said that the anti-Semitic racial laws Italy adopted during the Fascist era ''remain a deep wound, inflicted not only on the Jewish community but on all Italian society as well''.
''Thousands of our fellow citizens were suddenly isolated, deprived of their identity and declared 'non-Italians','' the premier added.
A recent poll found that 12% of Italians remain anti-Semitic and ''this makes my blood curdle,'' Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said on Tuesday.
''Anti-Semitism is unacceptable. Legitimate criticism of the Israeli government is acceptable, but not burning flags in public or drawing swastikas on Israeli symbols.
Anti-Semitism is a humiliation of the human being,'' Frattini added.
