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Erri De Luca on Attacks: 'Hatred Harms Those Who Feel It Most'
🇮🇹 Italy /Conflict & Security

Erri De Luca on Attacks: 'Hatred Harms Those Who Feel It Most'

From Corriere della Sera · () Italian

Translated from Italian, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Context piece
  • Italian writer Erri De Luca made his first public appearance after being excluded from a literature festival for his statements on "Zionism" and the use of the term "genocide" for Gaza.
  • De Luca stated that hatred harms the perpetrator more than the recipient and that his social media accounts will no longer accept comments.
  • He clarified his stance on "Zionism," defining it as Israel's right to exist, and rejected the term "genocide" for the situation in Gaza, while expressing his deep connection to Jewish culture.

Italian writer Erri De Luca reappeared in public Tuesday evening, addressing a crowd at the "Ebraica" festival in Rome's Jewish Ghetto. This marked his first public appearance since his controversial exclusion from the Salerno literature festival due to his remarks on "Zionism" and the application of the term "genocide" to the situation in Gaza.

We are with you, Erri De Luca, for all the attacks you have received. We appreciate your courage.

— Jonathan PeledThe Israeli ambassador to Italy offered his support to Erri De Luca at the "Ebraica" festival.

Ambassador Jonathan Peled of Israel to Italy offered his support, stating, "We are with you, Erri De Luca, for all the attacks you have received. We greatly appreciate your courage." De Luca, however, downplayed the personal impact of the criticism, saying, "I am a privileged person; if they mistreat me a little, it's fine." He described the online backlash as "hatred that seriously harms the one who feels it, not the one who receives it." He has instructed his social media managers to disable comments on his posts.

I am a privileged person; if they mistreat me a little, it's fine.

— Erri De LucaThe Italian writer downplayed the personal impact of online criticism.

Federico Mollicone, president of the Chamber's Culture Committee and a member of Fratelli d'Italia, attended to express solidarity, calling De Luca's exclusion "brutal censorship." Mollicone also agreed with De Luca's assessment that a genocide is not occurring in Gaza, stating, "The only genocide in History was suffered by the Jews."

For solidarity, because he was the victim of brutal censorship. And I agree with him that a genocide is not taking place in Gaza: the only genocide in History was suffered by the Jews.

— Federico MolliconeFederico Mollicone, president of the Chamber's Culture Committee, explained his presence at the event.

De Luca reiterated his views on the polarization of language, where words become slogans. He clarified that "Zionist" has been mistakenly equated with expansionism, when in fact it defines Israel's right to exist. He also rejected the term "genocide" as propagandistic, similar to how he rejects "invasion" in place of "migratory flow." Despite the controversy, De Luca shared his deep connection to Jewish culture, reciting Psalm 137 from memory, "If I forget you, Jerusalem, may my right hand be paralyzed, may my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth..."

Hatred seriously harms the one who feels it, not the one who receives it.

— Erri De LucaThe writer commented on the nature of online attacks.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Corriere della Sera in Italian. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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