Mattarella defends journalist targeted by anti-Israel protesters. President Sergio Mattarella on Friday rushed to the defense of La Repubblica Editor-in-chief Maurizio Molinari.
Students protesting against Italian universities having relations with Israel stopped him from taking part in a debate at Naples's Federico II University. The students involved held up a banner that read "Zionists out of universities". Mattarella's office said Friday that the head of State had telephoned Molinaris to express his solidarity.