The victory of Giorgia Maloney, the energetic right-wing leader, in the Italian elections ignited automatic reactions in Israel.
The right hastened to bless the fact that the head of a central European country will be someone who says, "We will protect the holy, God, the country and the family", and accuses the left of wanting to "erase our identity";
Whereas on the left they warned against "the fascist leader from the extreme right, following in the footsteps of Mussolini".
Maloney, like the Swedish Democrats, Geert Wilders in the Netherlands, Viktor Orbán in Hungary, Marine Le Pen in France and other right-wing leaders in Europe - are all described by the continent's academic and media elite as "extreme right".
It is possible that in the inland settings they were right.
But this should not be the point of view of Jerusalem.
What should interest Israel is the Jewish and Israeli question.
And this is where the European right-wing parties place complexity at the door of the political system in Israel, because as far as the Jews and Israel are concerned - each case individually.
Maloney, head of "Brothers of Italy", votes in the elections (archive), photo: AFP
Dutch Wilders is by all accounts a lover of Israel.
The French Le Pen, on the other hand, never bothered to get rid of the anti-Semitic elements in the "National Front" - a step the Swedish Democrats did take.
As mentioned above, Viktor Orban, who helps the Jewish community in his country in every way, introduced the subject of the history of the Holocaust as a compulsory subject in the education system, and is proud that the Jews are safer in Hungary than in any other country.
Israel fan
As for Meloni, according to all the tests she has no anti-Semitic or anti-Israel background.
Indeed, she grew up in a fascist atmosphere, but she renounced it a long time ago.
Its general position is sympathetic to Israel, and it is even a member of the same international political alliance with Likud (ECR - Alliance of Reformers and Conservatives).
The foreign minister on her behalf will, apparently, be a member of her party, Giulio Terzi, who has already held the position and stood by Israel many times and served as the Italian ambassador to Israel.
He would not have joined Meloni if the "Brothers of Italy" party was anti-Semitic or fascist.
There are also anti-Semites on the left
Maloney, a very ambitious politician, has so far avoided speaking out against Iran.
As long as this warning light comes on, it will be necessary to carefully examine its movements.
And yet, the attack on her by the Israeli and international left on the grounds of "fascism" is simply unfounded.
Because unfortunately antisemites are everywhere, including on the Italian left.
The leader of the new Italy, Giorgio Maloni, avoided making statements against Israel, photo: Reuters
Just a month ago, a member of the center-left "Democratic Party" accused none other than the Jews of being infected with Nazism.
A member of parliament from the party claimed that Israel's existence is illegitimate and that Jerusalem is an occupied territory.
Therefore, before the left in Israel points the finger of blame specifically at the European right, it should first make sure to vomit and denounce the problematic elements in its own camp.
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