Rome rabbi hails Renzi on UNESCO

(ANSA) - Rome, October 21 - 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.