Rome's chief rabbi on Friday
praised Premier Matteo Renzi after he said an October 13 UNESCO
resolution on holy sites in East Jerusalem was "unreal".
"I hope those words will be followed up in a consistent
manner. Renzi's words are undoubtedly important," Rabbi
Ricccardo Di Segni told ANSA.
Italy abstained from voting on the resolution. Both the
content of the resolution and Italy's position have sparked
criticism within the Jewish community.
Di Segni said Renzi spoke out about "the risks inherent in
dogmatic religious visions, political commingling, and the moral
principle that history and values are not for sale - in this
case, not just Jewish but also Christian ones".
"Interfaith dialogue must be carried out based on mutual
understanding not on snatching symbols," the rabbi said, adding
that the incident also points to "politicians' responsibility".
The latter must find a way to find a balance between "real
needs and respect for history and its values," Di Segni said.
UNESCO's executive board approved the Arab-sponsored
resolution, which repeatedly refers to a hilltop complex that is
also the holiest site in Judaism only by its Islamic name.
The site is known to Jews as the Temple Mount and to
Muslims as Haram al-Sharif.
The resolution prompted Israel to freeze co-operation with
UNESCO.
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