Salvini and the "Italy-Israel" Award: Controversy erupts, opposition attacks

The decision to award the "Italy- Israel " prize to Matteo Salvini immediately sparked a wave of controversy and strong political backlash. While the League leader justified his decision to withdraw with specific reasons, the opposition lashed out against him. In this tense climate, the debate heated up, exposing deep divisions in the Italian political landscape.

On the day a new massacre took place in Gaza , with Israeli tanks opening fire on the tents of displaced people, causing dozens of victims, Matteo Salvini, leader of the League, was awarded the "Israel-Italy 2025" prize.

This award, established for the first time by the Milton Friedman Institute in collaboration with the Union of Italy-Israel Associations, the Maccabi World Union, the Israel's Defend and Security Forum, and the Alliance for Israel, is given for the Deputy Prime Minister's commitment to relations with Israel.

During the event, numerous compliments were expressed for Salvini. Ambassador Peled emphasized that the Deputy Prime Minister deserves recognition for his commitment to strengthening strategic ties between Italy and Israel. He called his friendship with Salvini an honor and a source of gratitude, expressing his hope that through him, bilateral relations can be further strengthened.

“ I'm honored. Is it a comfortable reward? No. It's too easy to be friends when you have plenty of friends, more difficult to remain friends when other paths are opening up. You can't put a democratic reality on the same level. and a terrorist one , which aims to eliminate the State of Israel. A ceasefire can be reached tomorrow morning, with the return of the hostages. The choice is entirely up to Hamas, who cowardly started the conflict ,” the minister commented.

He added, tongue in cheek, that this award would give him even more media coverage than he already has, joking that the only charge he could face would be drug dealing.

Pd, M5s and Avs harshly criticize Salvini's award

During the parliamentary session, the opposition forces Pd, M5s and Avs expressed harsh criticism towards the executive in relation to the recognition conferred to Matteo Salvini .

The leader of the Five Star Movement, Riccardo Ricciardi , strongly criticized what he called a "letter condemning Israel after two years of genocide," emphasizing that such an action is "shrouded in hypocrisy," further exacerbated by the position taken by the Deputy Prime Minister. Ricciardi argued that what happened goes beyond normal political discourse and constitutes a true sign of "human misery."

Arturo Scotto, a member of the Democratic Party, also denounced the government's "double standards," highlighting how Salvini's withdrawal of the prize violates the spirit of the Chamber, a place dedicated to upholding the rule of law.

Angelo Bonelli, an AVS MP, called the ceremony "an obscene award ceremony," recalling how the League leader had previously "shaked the bloody hands" of Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, and wondered what further line must be crossed to provoke a reaction.

Stefania Ascari, of the Five Star Movement, expressed her shock that such an event took place inside a hall of the Chamber of Deputies, the institution that represents all Italians.

Nicola Fratoianni, a member of parliament for the Green and Left Alliance, accused the deputy prime minister of receiving the award for his "complicity and hypocrisy."

Finally, Laura Boldrini, intercepted near Montecitorio, deemed the award ceremony "inappropriate," stating that the ceremony, held in the presence of the Israeli ambassador, was neither the right time nor the right place to honor a member of the government committed to cooperation with Israel. According to the former Speaker of the Chamber, initiatives of this kind should never take place in institutional settings.