Presentation of the book ‘The Suicide of Israel’, Wednesday from 5.30 p.m., with talks by the author Anna Foà. Free admission subject to availability.

Israel was already going through a period of dramatic crisis before the criminal attack of 7 October 2023. Large demonstrations were clamouring for the resignation of Netanyahu and his government and the country was practically at a standstill. The response to Hamas’ terrorist act with the Gaza war, however, risks being suicidal for Israel. On the one hand, in fact, we have the involution of Zionism, or rather of Zionisms: from the original one of the late 19th century, through the liberal and pro-peace with the Arabs, to the growth of the extremist settler movement and the assassination of Rabin. On the other hand, the rest of the Jewish world – the American and European diaspora – is today confronted with a growing anti-Semitism which, contrary to Netanyahu’s propaganda, is not the same as anti-Zionism, but which certainly draws inspiration and nourishment from the events of the Gaza war. In order to save Israel, it is necessary to counter the Jewish supremacism of the current Netanyahu government with the idea that the State of Israel must exercise equal rights towards all its citizens and must end the occupation by favouring the creation of a Palestinian state. Any support for Israel’s rights – existence, security – cannot be separated from that of the rights of the Any support for Israel’s rights – existence, security – cannot be separated from that of Palestinian rights. Without a different policy towards the Palestinians Hamas cannot be defeated but will continue to rise from its ashes. It is not weapons that will defeat Hamas, but policy.