Italy Faces Outcry Over Online Form Targeting Jews and Israeli Tourists Amid Rising Antisemitism

In recent days, Italy's Jewish community has been alarmed by the circulation of an anonymous online form in Milan that urged users to identify Jews and Israelis, particularly tourists, and report their presence in hotels, shops, and rental properties across the country. The form claimed its purpose was to "map Zionist tourism" in Italy, sparking widespread condemnation from Jewish leaders and Italian authorities. Following intervention by Italy's anti-antisemitism commissioner, General Pasquale Angelosanto, the form was removed from the internet, but concerns remain about the implications of such data collection based on religious and national identity.

Jewish community leaders in Milan and Rome denounced the initiative as reminiscent of ethnic and religious persecution from the 1930s, with Victor Pedalon, head of Rome's Jewish community, calling it a "real manhunt" fueled by stereotypes against Jews and those linked to Israel. Walter Magnagi of Milan's Jewish community emphasized the legal risks, noting that collecting sensitive personal data violates Italian and EU privacy laws and could lead to increased attacks by extremist groups. Lia Ottolenghi, president of Italy's Union of Jewish Communities, compared the form to a "new yellow badge" and warned it echoed the 1938 racial laws.

The Italian Senate President, Ignazio La Russa, and ruling coalition parties "Brothers of Italy" and "Forza Italia" also condemned the form, stressing it contradicts basic civil rights and reflects deep-rooted antisemitism. This incident coincides with a sharp rise in antisemitic incidents in Italy, with a 2025 report by the CDEC Foundation documenting 963 cases last year, a 10% increase from 2024 and a 400% rise since 2022. Physical assaults surged by 225%, mainly in Lombardy and Lazio.

The hostility extends beyond online harassment, with Sardinia becoming a hotspot for open hatred against Israeli tourists, including protests and petitions to bar Israeli visitors, often labeled as "murderous soldiers." Social media frequently spreads warnings against Israeli flights, accusing tourists of contaminating the island. Such animosity has escalated into verbal and physical violence at public events, including attacks on Jewish groups commemorating Italy's liberation from fascism and exclusion of Jewish LGBTQ groups from pride parades.

The Jewish community urges Italian society and authorities to remain vigilant against this growing antisemitism, emphasizing that these developments represent a dangerous escalation that threatens fundamental rights and social cohesion.