"Don't shoot the messenger"
This article printed on the daily “Il Foglio” of the 26th of September, is an op-ed of the editorial staff.
Since August 10, the Israeli newspaper Haaretz has devoted four articles to the appointment of Fiamma Nirenstein as the next Ambassador of Israel in Italy. Haaretz was the first to announce the news. This morbid interest conceals the umpteenth attack of the liberal newspaper against Bibi Netanyahu, who, besides being the Prime Minister, is also the Foreign Minister. Haaretz has enrolled also the renowned professor and historian Shlomo Avineri (in its mission to stir up the pot against Netanyahu).
The topics of criticism range from a supposed opposition to the appointment by some elements of the Jewish community of Rome (supposed as later denied by the concerned parties), to the classic anti-Semitic argument of "double loyalty", to finally arrive, quoting Avineri, a clear form of rudeness by Netanyahu against the present Italian PM Matteo Renzi by sending an ambassador who has been a parliamentary member for one of the opposition leaders. This argument is ridiculous for anyone aware of the facts and remembers Nirenstein’s well-known bipartisan activity during her political parenthesis.
As for the argument of "double loyalty": the anti-Semites are those who have always linked the fate of the Jewish Diaspora to that of Israel in a deprecating way.
Just to mention some examples: the Italian trade unions that in 1982, to protest against Israeli policies in Lebanon, laid a coffin in front of the Synagogue of Rome, prelude to the terror attack that later killed the 2 year old child Stefano Gaj Taché. Those who kidnapped and killed llan Halimi in Paris, because he was a Jew. Those who keep on burning Israeli flags in the European squares. They are the ones who force the Roman Jewish authorities - and Nirenstein herself - to go around with police escort.